New tool weighs up cost
of deploying prefab vs
traditional data centres
S
chneider Electric, a leader in the
Digital Transformation of energy
management and automation, has
introduced a Prefabricated Vs Traditional
Data Center Cost Calculator, providing
users with a cost analysis for considering
the best approach to deploying new IT
infrastructure capacity and delivering key
insights into procurement decisions.
The digital TradeOff Tool, designed
by Schneider Electric’s Data Centre
Science Centre, allows decision makers
to investigate whether a prefabricated
or traditional approach to deploying
new data centre infrastructure is the
most appropriate, based on both the IT
requirements and demands of the business.
Users can also examine the effects
of a combined approach, utilising
prefabricated modules for only one, or
some of the elements.
Rapid deployment, flexibility
and scalability
Today’s speed of business demands data
centre infrastructure which can meet
the need for rapid deployment, flexibility
and scalability.
small single rack-sized Edge Computing
solutions, to data hall-sized prefabricated
infrastructure modules.
TradeOff tools simplify
decision making
When deciding how to add capacity to
existing infrastructure, operators have
several choices, including whether to
refurbish and upgrade an existing plant,
build a new facility or deploy a completely
prefabricated data centre.
The key cost considerations are the
cooling architecture, rack density, module
placement and choice to build or lease
the property.
The Schneider Electric Prefabricated vs
Traditional Data Center Cost Calculator
uses pricing information from a number
of internal and external sources,
including third-party equipment suppliers
and government labour statistics, to
provide rough cost comparisons between
each approach.
Additionally, the TradeOff Tool uses
trending data to devise multipliers and
estimate the effects of increasing rack
density, capacity and redundancy.
It calculates a summary of the capital
expenditure (CAPEX) incurred via user
input options and demonstrates the
percentage difference. Bar charts provide
a graphical overview of the equipment,
design/installation and space/building
costs for each approach.
“Depending on the customer
requirements, there are, of course, a
number of advantages and disadvantages
to each approach,” said Wendy Torell,
Senior Research Analyst at Schneider
Electric’s Data Centre Science Centre.
“With its introduction of the Prefabricated
vs Traditional Data Center Cost Calculator,
Schneider Electric has simplified the
task, allowing IT professionals to model
the financial implications of various
deployment strategies that are accurate to
within 20% or so of the costs that might
be expected by choosing prefab.”
The Prefabricated vs Traditional Data
Center Cost Calculator is available at the
Schneider Electric website. ◊
Although not new, prefabricated data
centres are a disruptive technology,
transforming the way customers design
and build data centres.
By removing time and cost from
facility construction and upgrades,
prefab enables the industry to address
the unpredictable nature of growth
and technological advances through
predictable data centre performance.
Schneider Electric’s prefab offering
can encompass one or all of the key
data centre functions including IT
racks, cooling, uninterruptible power
supplies, distribution and switchgear.
In many cases the sizes range from
58
Issue 07
Schneider Electric’s prefab offering can
encompass one or all of the key data
centre functions
www.intelligentdatacentres.com