In the realm of data centre construction, there has been a significant shift in priorities towards reducing the environmental impact of new projects, particularly in the UK and Ireland. A recent study conducted by Aggreko surveyed 495 construction managers across Europe, with a focus on 104 respondents involved in projects in the UK and Ireland. Surprisingly, nearly one-third of managers in the UK and over two-fifths in Ireland identified minimizing the environmental footprint of their projects as a top concern, surpassing more traditional issues like delays in scheduling or supply chain disruptions.
The research revealed that 73% of respondents in the UK and a striking 96% in Ireland believe that sustainability has become more important in the past three years. While UK managers are primarily driven by legislative requirements, their Irish counterparts are motivated by the need to reduce carbon emissions, especially in light of public backlash against data centres in Ireland. This includes a notable protest by climate activists at DataCentres Ireland last year. Despite the growing emphasis on sustainability, a significant portion of construction managers in both regions admitted that senior management often lacks awareness of relevant legislation, raising concerns about future compliance.
One of the key findings of the survey was the strong interest in battery energy storage systems among UK construction managers, while their Irish counterparts showed a preference for alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biomethanol. However, the high capital costs associated with implementing these technologies pose a major barrier, with a quarter of respondents in both markets citing poor availability of biofuels as another challenge.
These obstacles come at a time when the demand for data centre capacity is rapidly increasing. According to property advisor Savills, European capacity needs to almost double by the end of 2025 to keep up with the rising demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.
Billy Durie, Global Sector Head for Data Centres at Aggreko, emphasized the importance of collaboration between construction managers and energy suppliers to navigate these challenges effectively. He highlighted the need for flexibility in addressing the industry’s sustainability goals and the role of temporary power storage solutions in supporting data centre development.
In conclusion, the survey conducted by Aggreko sheds light on the complexities facing data centre construction managers in the UK and Ireland as they strive to meet sustainability targets amidst a rapidly evolving industry landscape. By fostering partnerships and leveraging innovative energy solutions, the sector can overcome these challenges and advance towards a more environmentally conscious future.
