Data Centres are set to be a £6.5bn industry by 2025, and as demand for data continues to grow this figure is only going to rise more and more. There were 15 separate data centre projects completed last year, with even more that will be finished by the end of this year – which means there is plenty of opportunity for the taking.
Hosting computer systems, telecoms and storage, data centres are like the backbone of the modern technological world.
Centres are vital in supporting business and the government, from email and file sharing, cloud storage and productivity applications to AI, machine learning and big data, it would be hard to find a modern company that isn’t supported by the wonders of data centres.
There are over 450 data centres across the UK, making the UK as the second biggest global hub and one with huge scope for the construction sector. The UK is home to the largest data centre within Europe, the massive 750,000 sqft Vantage Cardiff centre, showing the scale of ambition.
The impact of the pandemic made data evermore in-demand, which has led to the building of larger “hyperscale” data centres and increased investment throughout the sector, opening up a new world of possibilities.
But what about their impact on the planet? Data centres need a lot of energy to keep them going, making up 2% of the entire world’s energy use – and there are very important conversations about climate and the sector.
There is a solution emerging with “green” data, which is becoming more and more the focus of the industry, particularly after the signing of the Climate Change Agreement Back in 2014.
Although there is a lot more that needs to be done, this agreement led to many providers setting net zero targets, alongside building more efficient buildings and making investment in renewables.
There is historic investment and opportunities – but what are the challenges faced by the sector? There are difficulties around skills and materials, as well as the increased costs of making the sector low carbon. Even with these real challenges, there is still huge momentum within the data centre industry.
Modular construction is also becoming increasingly common within the data centres sector, in-line with its growth across the wider industry. Just shy of 30% of projects have utilised the approach , which can create efficiency savings, and improve sustainability. This represents a potential growth area, and one that could really change the game!
There are some truly exciting and significant development plans within the sector, including Kao Data planning a massive £130m expansion of two of its prime location sites, a recently announced £61m data centre in Salford, and a new data centre set to be powered by Swansea’s planned £1.7bn Tidal Lagoon.
Do you want to find out how your firm can benefit from this surging industry and win work within the sector? Join our Data Centres event and hear from some of the sector’s most significant people and companies!
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