DATA CENTRES
UK demand remains strong but power availability is a concern across Europe
We continue to see strong demand for data centre space and capacity in the UK, with the main focus still in and around London and the South East where 75% to 80% of capacity is located. We are also seeing increased date centre project opportunities outside these areas, with major hyperscale developments being planned in the North East and West of England.
London, with more than 1GW of IT capacity, retains its position as the largest of the major European data centre hubs in the FLAP+D markets (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin). But this position is being challenged by Frankfurt and Paris which have both reported large upticks in new developments.
The availability of power, however, remains the number one barrier to projects due to capacity on the UK’s national grid coming under pressure from increased demand and the switch from fossil fuels to renewables.
We are hearing reports that large HV/MV connections (+150MVA) could take 10 years or more to be delivered to site. There is therefore increased interest in on-site energy centres, private power generation schemes and private wire networks to address this issue. This is a common theme across the other FLAP+D and secondary hub markets in Europe.
Our data centre clients remain focused on early engagement with National Grid and independent distribution network operators to secure power supplies, improve data centre designs to increase cost efficiency and reduce power usage, and standardise designs for key mission-critical equipment to reduce cost and programme risks.
INSIGHT
Data centre growth seen in scaled schemes and retrofits
As demand for computing power rises, developers are turning to options from hyperscale data centres to smaller urban schemes as well as retrofitting suitable commercial and industrial space. According to a recent Rider Levitt Bucknall (RLB) report, the data centre sector’s energy consumption is considerable – and still growing.
