A new report identifies site disruption and inflationary pressures as factors slowing the adoption of green construction practices within Europe's data centre sector.
Commissioned by Aggreko, Uptime on the Line, is described as a comprehensive study of the challenges affecting data centre construction projects, including skills and equipment shortages, the viability of renewable alternatives and power procurement
The report highlights the majority of contractors are having to extend timelines due to supply difficulties, with rising costs compounding the sectors difficulties – only 8% of those surveyed reported no delays due to supply chain-related disruption.
The research uses insights from a survey of 700 data centre professionals consulting for large businesses in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
As pressures mount for adopting low-carbon construction, the report also explores the sector challenges preventing uptake of greener practices.
For example, lack of skills was among the top two challenges for adopting renewable energy during the construction phase in every surveyed region besides France.
Billy Durie, Global Sector Head – Data Centres at Aggreko, says: “Exponential increases in global internet usage and the rise of high-performance computing mean demand for new data centres is set to rise rapidly.
Coping with such traffic now seems vital to not only the data centre space, but Europe’s wider economic growth.
“Market disruptions, rising costs and regulatory pressures, however, mean challenges outside of contractors’ control are jeopardising project schedules.
The demand for new sites to cope with traffic volumes mean this will soon become unsustainable, necessity strategies which combat delays, while supporting the transition to renewable practices.”
