AI Capacity Without BUILDING A NEW DATACENTEr
Decommissioning has evolved far beyond simply shutting down old equipment. In today’s AI-driven data center environment, it’s a strategic tool for reclaiming power, improving efficiency, and accelerating capacity growth.
Strategic decommissioning removes
Aging low-density compute
Idle or “zombie” servers
Old networking and storage infrastructure
Inefficient cooling systems
This immediately frees megawatts of available power and cooling, which can then be redirected to new AI clusters—often the fastest way to expand AI capacity without expanding the facility footprint.
AI infrastructure demands dramatically more power and cooling than traditional compute, and much of that capacity is trapped behind legacy, underutilized, or inefficient equipment. Strategic decommissioning clears out aging servers, ghost circuits, outdated cooling, and stranded power—freeing up megawatts that can be redirected to high-density AI racks without expanding the building footprint.
By removing low-density infrastructure, operators can modernize whitespace, install advanced cooling solutions, reduce PUE, and improve overall reliability for long-running AI workloads. Just as importantly, decommissioning enables faster time-to-market than new construction, allowing data centers to respond to AI demand in weeks instead of years.
Reduce PUE
When done properly, decommissioning also supports ESG goals through responsible recycling and material recovery. The result is a cleaner, more efficient, and more competitive data center—ready to support the next wave of AI growth.
In the AI era, decommissioning isn’t an end-of-life task. It’s a power-unlocking strategy.
Decommissioning in the AI Era
Frees up stranded power and cooling for AI workloads
Removes aging, inefficient, and underutilized equipment
Enables high-density AI racks and modern cooling designs
Lowers PUE and improves overall energy efficiency
Improves reliability for long-running AI training clusters
Accelerates AI capacity growth without new construction
Reduces costs compared to greenfield data center builds
Supports ESG goals through recycling and material recovery
