Challenges Faced by Construction Managers in the European Data Centre Sector
A recent survey gathered data from 495 construction managers working in the European data centre sector, with 104 respondents from the UK and Ireland combined.
Increasing Demand for Data Centre Capacity
The data centre industry is currently experiencing a surge in demand, leading to challenges in meeting capacity requirements. According to Savills, there is a shortage of planned data centre development projects up to 2025, with the need for projects to almost double to meet the growing demand.
Growing Importance of Sustainability
Survey respondents in Ireland and the UK emphasized the increasing importance of sustainability in the industry. In Ireland, 96% of respondents rated sustainability as more important than three years ago, while over 70% of UK respondents also highlighted sustainability as a top priority.
Barriers to Implementing Greener Technologies
While legislation was identified as the main driver for adopting greener technologies in the UK, the need to reduce carbon emissions was the primary motivator in Ireland. However, a significant percentage of respondents in both countries expressed concerns about the implementation of sustainability measures, citing a disconnect between senior-level knowledge and on-site practices.
Preferred Greener Technologies
When asked about the greener technologies they were likely to use, UK respondents favored battery energy storage systems (BESS), while respondents from Ireland showed interest in future fuels like hydrogen or biomethanol.
Barriers to Greener Technology Adoption
Despite the interest in greener technologies, construction managers in the UK and Ireland highlighted cost as a major barrier to adoption. Additionally, difficulties in accessing biofuels were mentioned as a challenge by a quarter of respondents from both countries.
Expert Insights
Billy Durie, Global Sector Head for Data Centres at Aggreko, commented on the survey findings, emphasizing the challenges faced by data centre construction managers in meeting sustainability targets. Durie stressed the importance of working with reliable energy suppliers to navigate barriers and implement greener solutions effectively.
Supporting the industry through temporary power storage and provision solutions can help construction managers address sustainability challenges and meet targets efficiently.
