Building a Cooling-as-a-Service Platform for Data Centers

Aug 24
2 min read

Updated: Aug 27

Japanese Cooling Technology Company | Japan to Europe

CHALLENGE

A Japanese technology company had developed a high-performance cooling fluid and wanted to expand its business into the European market, with data centers identified as a promising application.

However, selling the cooling fluid as a standalone product limited the value the company could provide. Data center operators required an integrated cooling solution that could work within existing infrastructure and meet operational, technical and efficiency requirements.

Delivering such a solution required capabilities beyond the client's core technology, including system integration, complementary technologies, infrastructure partners and access to potential customers.

The key question was:

How could the client move from selling a standalone cooling product to providing an integrated cooling solution with a scalable business model?

OUR SOLUTION

Trusted worked with the client to develop and validate a Cooling-as-a-Service business model for the European market.

The concept positioned the client's cooling technology as the foundation of a broader solution, combining it with complementary technologies, system integration and infrastructure capabilities provided by external partners.

To develop the model around real market requirements, Trusted engaged 30 organizations across the data center and infrastructure value chain, including:

Data center builders and operators to understand operational requirements, infrastructure constraints and adoption needs
System integrators to assess how the client's technology could be incorporated into complete cooling systems
Technology providers to identify complementary components and capabilities required for the solution
End users to validate demand and potential applications
Financial and insurance partners to explore financing, risk-sharing and deployment models

These engagements helped define how the different capabilities could be brought together into an integrated offering and clarified the roles potential partners could play in delivering the solution.

Trusted also worked with the client to evaluate potential revenue and market-entry models, including service-based approaches that could create longer-term customer relationships rather than relying only on product sales.

The result was a partner-validated Cooling-as-a-Service concept, supported by an ecosystem of potential technology, integration, infrastructure and commercial partners.

OUTCOME

The project established a pathway for the client to move from:

Standalone Cooling Product → Integrated Cooling Solution → Cooling-as-a-Service → Scalable Deployment

The client gained:

A Cooling-as-a-Service business model shaped by direct market and partner feedback
A clearer understanding of data center customer and infrastructure requirements
Potential technology and system integration partners
Relationships with data center operators and other relevant stakeholders
Potential financing and risk-sharing approaches
Multiple pathways for deployment and commercialization in Europe

The project resulted in several partner-supported commercialization opportunities, with initial deployment and testing activities initiated with selected stakeholders.

TRUSTED'S ROLE

Business Opportunity Development · Multi-Stakeholder Validation · Business Model Development · Ecosystem Development · Commercialization Pathway

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