Malaysia is taking palm oil from the frying pan to server racks, as it banks on its biggest agricultural commodity to crack a code plaguing its data centre boom – keeping servers cool. Researchers at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) are developing a palm-based liquid to cool computer servers without relying on copious volumes of water, as the country grapples with high resource demands to support its rapidly expanding digital infrastructure. As of January, data centres were using 28.68 million litres (7.6 million gallons) of water a day, according to the National Water Services Commission. But the palm oil technology has raised the question of whether a green solution for data centres would create new pressures further down the supply chain. Experts say this hinges on where palm oil sources are derived and if existing plantations can meet demand or result in more land clearance.