October 10, 2023
What is a Prefabricated Modular Data Center?
Over the last decade or so, there has been a change in data center builds from conventional "brick and mortar" builds where data center operators select and size system components and engineer them to work together, then construct the building, and, when data center building is completed, install and commission the equipment. Today, modular data centers are designed, manufactured, and tested off-site while the preparation of the site takes place in parallel, leading to 40% or more time savings versus a traditional new-build data center. Prefabricated modules are meant to be as plug-and-play as possible, reducing onsite labor requirements and onsite process logistics complexity.
The advantages of this are rapid, efficient design, lower risk, and cost certainty due to factory integration. Modular data centers are scalable for future extensions, have repeatable designs, and are high quality due to the control possible through factory integration. The simplistic assembly allows modules to be shipped quickly by road, rail, or sea.
Who is Adopting Prefabricated Modular Data Centers?
Research done by Vertiv and Omdia in 2022 revealed that of 228 companies surveyed from diverse industries across the globe who operate their own data center, more than half have already deployed prefabricated modular data center solutions.
99% of participants say that prefabricated components and modular data center deployment is part of their future strategy.
93% said that prefabricated modular solutions would be their default construction strategy for their data centers in the future.