Certified efficiency, guaranteed

In addition to the technology, the complete product range is also being refined. For example, ebm-papst has recently begun offering an energy efficiency guarantee for its smart retrofit projects. The operating partner for this is Great Lakes Insurance SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of the reinsurer Munich Re. This allows building operators to benefit, among other things, from greater planning certainty and easier access to financing.

A key and particularly rewarding area of application for this innovative comprehensive solution is the optimization of cooling systems and fans in data centers. That's because they require an enormous amount of electrical energy and water to cool their equipment. They often still work according to rigid guidelines. Bastian explains: “Here, the NEXAIRA.Systems solution uses AI to optimize the control of existing refrigeration systems in real time and dynamically adjusts operating parameters in response to changes in weather and load.” What sets it apart: As an AI plug-in, NEXAIRA.Systems can be integrated directly into the existing control system, connecting thousands of data points without requiring any additional hardware.

Even competitors benefit

To illustrate this, Stefan Bastian performs a model calculation: “In a 6,600-square-meter data center with 3,000 server racks, our solution can save 900 megawatt-hours of electricity per year – in air conditioning alone.” If one were to calculate the financial benefit in the example, it would result (in Germany) in annual savings of 90,000 to 162,000 euros (assuming an electricity price range for industrial customers of 100 to 180 euros per megawatt-hour). Simply put, thanks to Bastian and his team, data centers can become not only more cost-effective, but also cooler, smarter, and more environmentally friendly. And from a technical standpoint, the use of artificial intelligence in cooling facilitates the development of new artificial intelligence in data centers.

The ebm-papst neo solution creates a digital twin, which creates a virtual model of a cooling system, incorporating all compressors and pumps. The manufacturer has deliberately chosen not to establish a monopoly on devices. Ebm-papst also incorporates existing third-party products from competitors. This allows all components to be controlled individually and coordinated with one another.

From a global perspective, the company believes innovation will have a tremendous impact: according to estimates, savings of up to 128 terawatt-hours of cooling energy per year could be made worldwide. Bastian draws a comparison: “That is equivalent to the output of 22 nuclear power plants. One of the underlying principles is the so-called model predictive control principle, which the system uses to continuously analyze operating data and provide an optimized control recommendation. In addition, deviations from simulated operations are detected early on, providing warnings of potential malfunctions or unplanned outages. This reduces operating costs, improves operational reliability, and increases the efficiency of energy-intensive infrastructure. In addition, retrofitting existing systems with high-efficiency fans can yield further savings.” And Bastian isn't worried about profitability either. He promises: “The investment in our product often pays for itself within a year.”

Added value through premium climate control

In spring 2026, ebm-papst was honored with the AI Impact Award for its innovation. The award is presented by the German business publication Manager Magazin in collaboration with the management consultancy Porsche Consulting. The interdisciplinary jury was particularly impressed by how data-driven services and innovative strategies can improve the efficiency, durability, and usability of fans. Ebm-papst has recognized how data can be used to create real added value for customers and how to achieve the highest possible efficiency in complex HVAC systems. The focus here is on a high degree of transparency through automated reports, real-time air quality certification, and the shift from rigid to dynamic maintenance schedules. If one were to boil down this technically complex business idea to four words, the result would probably be: “Air as a Service.”