ONLY 8 % OF THOSE SURVEYED BY AGGREKO IN KEY DATA CENTRE MARKETS ACROSS EUROPE REPORTED NO DELAYS DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN-RELATED DISRUPTION .
INFOGRAPHIC
The uncontrollable market disruptions impeding data centre construction
The demand for data centres has never been greater . Dubbed the ‘ new digital space race ’, construction in the industry is at an all-time high but risks being delayed by inflationary pressures and external disruptions . Here , Billy Durie , Global Sector Head for Data Centres at Aggreko , explains the increasing sector challenges highlighted in the company ’ s latest industry research .
n the second half of its
I two-part report series , Uptime on the Line , Aggreko asked 700 European data centre professionals for their views on the challenges involved during the construction of new facilities . The results highlight the many external pressures that impede the development of new data centres across Europe and the staggering level of demand outstripping supply .
For many contractors , supply difficulties are a major concern that often lead to timeline extensions . Only 8 % of those surveyed by Aggreko in key data centre markets across Europe reported no delays due to supply chain-related disruption . The UK , Ireland , Netherlands and Sweden are mainly experiencing delays of up to two months . However , with growth and subsequent demand speeding up and industry professionals vying for the same equipment , this will only worsen .
Alongside this , the pressure to adopt low-carbon construction methods is making it more difficult to achieve the minimum requirement of 3,000 new facilities by 2025 . Granted , this issue is complex , with a range of factors affecting the wider adoption of greener technologies . As the graph shows , the research highlighted a lack of confidence among contractors towards local governments throughout Europe , particularly when it comes to updating old laws and regulations to encourage uptake of renewable energy resources .
This challenge is exacerbated by a lack of green subsidies for construction firms and insufficient connections to the grid across Europe . This gridlock is causing tailbacks for infrastructure projects across the continent , waiting to be connected to sparse networks , leaving no option but to extend deadlines .
The demand for new sites to cope with traffic volumes will eventually mean the current procurement and project timeline for data centres will become untenable .
However , Aggreko seeks to identify the ‘ pinch points ’ ahead of work commencing to keep projects on schedule and offset escalating costs .
Its recent report has shown the importance of bridging solutions and presents viable options that can help ease external challenges . For example , stage V generators , gas generation , battery storage and MW transformers can aid in the issue of securing prime power , providing an immediate fix when sites are held up by delays for a grid connection .
Given the current lack of grid infrastructure and delays in waiting for a connection on site , it ’ s critical for businesses involved in data centre projects to work with suppliers , like Aggreko , that understand these unique challenges . �
ONLY 8 % OF THOSE SURVEYED BY AGGREKO IN KEY DATA CENTRE MARKETS ACROSS EUROPE REPORTED NO DELAYS DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN-RELATED DISRUPTION .
Key Europe-wide findings from Aggreko ’ s Uptime on the Line report , showing contractors ’ lack of confidence in local governments throughout Europe
www . intelligentdatacentres . com
35