Still, switching the whole ecosystem to support industrialised construction represents a very difficult challenge..
Lincoln points out that multi-storey or retrofitted data centres may soon become more common, especially when operators seek low-latency connections in city centres..However, building in dense urban environments introduces new complexities: community relations, architectural design considerations, and zoning regulations all come into play.
The standardised ‘kit of parts’ concept helps here too, as a platform-based design can be more readily adapted to tighter sites or existing structures..Ensuring adaptability and reliability.For all the emphasis on innovation, Lincoln reiterates that data centres are mission-critical: even minor downtime can be cripplingly expensive for operators.
This means that adopting new methods - be they industrial construction techniques or cooling advancements - demands careful piloting and collaboration.He stresses that Edged’s approach is built on tested engineering principles, explaining:.
‘Everyone is on a learning curve… The workloads that exist now were unimaginable only a few years ago, so it’s not about replicating the old formula - it’s about rethinking it.’.
By leveraging both in-house expertise and external partnerships, Edged looks to mitigate risks while still pushing the boundaries of efficiency and sustainability..This led to some interesting realisations.
One of the primary products to be manufactured in the factory was bottled water.The team discovered two important things: the first was that the energy costs to manufacture the product would be high; the second was that the sale price for bottled water in Africa is low.
This meant that, ultimately, the product itself was prohibitively unprofitable, and the entire venture ended up being deemed a nonviable investment.The company decided not to build the factory at all..
(Editor: Simple Kettles)