Power struggles
Power densities are rapidly increasing to support advanced IT loads. Data center rack density will grow from 36kW to 50kW per rack by 2027. Centers dedicated to AI training could hit as much as 80-100kW per rack, meaning changes to the way equipment is cooled.
“Higher densityimpliesheavier racks, which effects floorplate loads and footprint, while increased heat generationis resultingin a shift away from traditional air cooling towards varioustypes of liquid cooling,” says Jordi Sinfreu, Head of Data Centers for Southern Europe. “Plus hyperscale,edgeand AI all require different mechanical, electrical and design considerations.”
Meanwhile, increasingly tough sustainability performance regulations and reporting requirements are making water and power efficiency paramount. And with the average commercial data center reportedly costing between $10 million and $12 million per megawatt to construct, the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to future-proofing data center design, says Sinfreu.
Project planning to avoid obsolescence
With more and larger data center construction requirements emerging, it’s a fine balance between the need for speed to market and the complexities that come with critical infrastructure projects.
Sinfreu says that staggering investment and taking a phased approach to development is one way to remain agile and avoid obsolescence. “It allows for greater flexibility as market conditions may change over the duration of the project,” he says.
This could mean adapting the design and layout of floors or halls or tapping into new sources of renewable energy as they become available.
And while retrofitting existing data centers to extend their life span is far from easy (Sinfreu likens it to carrying out delicate keyhole surgery), with careful planning, it’s not entirely impossible.
“Detailed CAPEX and asset lifecycle planning can help manage judicious use of budget for upgrades or allow for replacement of older equipment,” says Sutton. “This can allow operators to take advantage of newer, more efficient technologies, reducing total cost of ownership, rather than wasting money on maintaining and repairing old kit.”
Microsoft aims to run water-positive, zero-waste data centers by 2030, while Amazon Web Services are the world’s largest renewable energy buyer thanks to their data center power-transition strategy.
