DATA CENTRE INVESTMENT
CHRIS BUTLER: CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRE CUSTOMISED APPROACHES
Increasing power density:
Demand for AI has already driven rack power requirements beyond historic thresholds, with requirements moving to 100kW per rack and beyond. Some hyperscalers are planning for AI clusters that extend beyond 500kW and require newer data centre designs with customised power solutions.
Heat management limitations:
Escalating thermal loads are too much for traditional air cooling methods to handle. A single 100kW rack generates more than 340,000 BTU / hour – the equivalent of 34 standard home furnaces working at capacity. Data centres would benefit from transitioning to new thermal management solutions that are based on liquid cooling. with Chris saying this reduces onsite assembly and testing time by up to 75 %.
“ We design high-capacity PDUs capable of supporting 500kW per rack today, with roadmaps extending beyond 1MW to meet future AI demands,” he says.“ Our global manufacturing footprint also allows us to navigate supply chain disruptions and reduce lead times for critical power equipment.”
With such an increase in demand for power, Chris explains that Flex is also positioning itself to address sustainability challenges.
“ Sustainability can’ t be an afterthought – it must be central to data centre strategy,” he says.
Integration complexity:
Chris says:“ Compute, power and cooling technologies need to work hand in hand as part of a cohesive system. Hyperscalers and colocation providers are seeking partners capable of delivering vertically integrated solutions to their unique requirements.” This requires a combination of engineering, manufacturing and other capabilities across the lifecycle.
Supply chain pressures:
Global supply chain disruption has become more frequent, with a single delay representing billions in delayed revenue. Customisable, regionally diverse solutions can help to mitigate these risks.