UK clean technology firm Haydale says adding just 0.05 percent of its graphene-based additive to glycol-based cooling fluid raises thermal conductivity by 28 percent — a level comparable to pure water — and it aims to deploy the product across 200MW of data center compute starting within the next 12 months.

The Super-Efficient Thermal Transfer Fluid (SETTF) is designed to overcome glycol's core limitation: glycol prevents freezing in cooling systems but reduces thermal conductivity. Haydale, based in Ammanford, Wales, has signed commercial agreements with cooling company DC Cooling Solutions and graphene manufacturer Levidian Nanosystems to bring the fluid to market.

The company says it is in advanced discussions with data center operators covering roughly 200MW of compute, with the first installations set to commence in the next year.

Why does graphene work in coolant?

Graphene particles have a large surface area, allowing them to absorb more heat. Until now, use of the material in cooling fluids has been limited because the particles can thicken the fluid. Haydale says it has developed a way to disperse graphene without degrading the performance of the base material.

The company's testing shows the 28 percent conductivity gain at a dosage of approximately 0.05 percent of total fluid volume.

What does better heat transfer buy operators?

Simon Turek, CEO of Haydale, said: "For a data center operator, better heat transfer means more thermal headroom. That headroom can be used to run processors cooler, reduce the energy and flow required for cooling, or support more compute from the same cooling infrastructure. As AI chips become hotter and rack densities increase, we believe that becomes increasingly valuable."

Turek added: "We now have application-tested technology, protected IP, production capacity at Ammanford, and commercial agreements establishing our supply chain and route to market. Our priorities are now clear: complete qualification, convert the approximately 200MW of active operator discussions into first deployments, and secure dedicated external capital for the venture."

Who is in the supply chain?

Haydale signed agreements with Liquitherm, DC Cooling's parent company, and Levidian. The three parties intend to take the product to market jointly through a newly formed, dedicated company.

The structure draws on:

• DC Cooling Solutions' data center customer base
• The partners' respective industry channels
• Joint manufacturing, marketing and distribution

Ian Hopkins, chief commercial officer of Levidian, said: "SETTF represents an exciting, high-value application for our G3 graphene. Levidian brings both materials-science capability and an international production platform that can support the venture as it scales into the markets where AI infrastructure investment is growing most rapidly. We look forward to working with Haydale and Liquitherm on qualification and first commercial deployments."

What happens next?

Qualification is the immediate priority. Stephen Hickson, group CEO and CTO of Liquitherm Technologies Group, said: "The SETTF test results are very encouraging. Achieving improved thermodynamic and hydrodynamic performance while retaining the requisite hydronic, biostatic and corrosion protection characteristics of a robust thermal fluid, operating within direct-to-chip cooling loops, could prove vital in enhancing chip performance (overclocking)."

Hickson added: "Our focus is now on qualification and integration into our data-centre cooling fluid range and similar HVAC environments served by the Liquitherm group and our global partners."