Caterpillar and Vertiv: Optimising Data Centre Performance

Caterpillar, a world-leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, has signed a strategic agreement with Vertiv to provide integrated power and cooling solutions for on-site data centres.

The development is set to have implications for power-intensive remote operations such as those in the mining sector. 

The collaboration will create pre-designed architectures combining Caterpillar’s power generation systems with Vertiv’s thermal and electrical distribution technologies. This approach aims to give operators a route to faster deployment and greater independence from often-constrained electrical grids.

The initiative addresses a change in how high-density data processing facilities are planned. As industries like mining increase their reliance on automation, AI and remote monitoring, the need for reliable on-site data infrastructure grows. 

Many mining operations are situated in locations with limited or non-existent grid access, making independent power generation a necessity. This collaboration targets that exact challenge by integrating power generation and data centre infrastructure from the design phase.

Integrated power and cooling for remote sites

The collaboration leverages Caterpillar’s experience in power generation with its subsidiary Solar Turbines, providing the foundation for new reference designs. Vertiv will supply the supporting modular infrastructure, including power distribution and cooling systems. 

For mining companies, this could mean a more streamlined process for deploying the digital infrastructure needed for modern exploration and operations. The focus is on creating resilient on-site power and cooling to support the increasing number of AI-driven applications.

“This collaboration with Caterpillar and Solar Turbines is a cornerstone of our Bring Your Own Power & Cooling (BYOP&C) strategy and aligns seamlessly with our grid-to-chip framework by offering resilient, on-site power generation solutions,” says Gio Albertazzi, CEO at Vertiv. 

“By combining our complementary technologies, portfolios and expertise, we are enabling coordinated integration. Our pre-engineered, interoperability-tested building blocks let customers execute design, build and deploy concurrently, with predictable system performance.”

Responding to AI's energy footprint

The agreement directly addresses the escalating energy demands of AI and other high-performance computing workloads. While the original focus is on large AI data centres, the parallels with the mining industry's adoption of technology are clear. 

AI is used in mining for everything from geological surveying to autonomous vehicle fleet management, creating a large energy footprint that requires robust infrastructure.

Jason Kaiser, Group President of Caterpillar Power & Energy, explains: "As AI-driven workloads continue to accelerate, the demand for robust and scalable power infrastructure and cooling is becoming increasingly critical.

“Our collaboration with Vertiv will enable us to deliver integrated, on-site energy solutions that lower PUE and meet customers' evolving needs.”

The challenge is often not just the amount of power but the ability to deploy it reliably and quickly in remote locations. This collaboration could offer a solution by providing a standardised yet scalable framework.

Shortening deployment timelines

A key aspect of the collaboration is its potential to shorten project timelines through a modular design philosophy. Vertiv’s systems, which combine power distribution units and cooling technologies in pre-engineered blocks, can be integrated with Caterpillar’s generators. 

The approach allows for parallel work streams where site construction and systems integration can occur simultaneously rather than sequentially. For capital-intensive mining projects, this concurrent approach could reduce deployment times and accelerate the path to operational readiness.

According to Vertiv and Caterpillar, the integrated architecture could also improve overall facility efficiency. 

By designing the power and cooling systems as a single cohesive unit, operators can potentially reduce energy losses that might occur when integrating systems from multiple vendors. 

This is particularly relevant for sites that might employ Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP) systems, where heat recovery can be optimised. 

The global service networks of both Vertiv and Caterpillar will provide lifecycle support, a critical factor for organisations managing large-scale deployments across multiple remote regions.