Prefabricated Data Centers: A Key Strategy for Meeting the AI Boom

As AI grows exponentially, the ability to quickly build new or scale existing data centers has become crucial for capitalizing on new business opportunities. Hanna Oredsson, Sales Director at Schneider Electric Sweden, sees prefabricated data centers as an important strategy for meeting market demands.

Tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have democratized the use of artificial intelligence. The growth of data centers is expected to be enormous and very rapid, especially in Sweden, where conditions for data centers are optimal. As AI usage intensifies, demand for advanced data processing solutions increases, with energy consumption expected to rise by 36% annually until 2028. This explosive growth requires innovative solutions, and prefabricated data centers emerge as a smart strategy.

Next-generation AI data centers require a more forward-looking design. The scale of computing power and the rapid AI development, with its associated energy problems, pose challenges for data center operators. While a traditional rack has a capacity of 10 kW, requests are now being made for racks of 50 kW to 100 kW. Some are already seeing densities around 500 kW per rack. AI servers include advanced chips with high processing power close together, generating enormous amounts of heat. This heat must be dissipated using liquid cooling technologies, among other methods. As reference designs for data centers change, it becomes particularly important that facilities are built quickly and adapted to scale up rapidly. Speed to market has become central.

“Using modular data centers to manage the current AI boom is a must, and we are already seeing increased demand in the Swedish market. The need to scale up IT infrastructure quickly enough to meet changing demands for data calculation, cooling, and power supply will be essential for the entire industry going forward. It’s also about being able to seize business opportunities when they arise and minimize the time from an investment decision to a finished data center. A modular strategy based on prefabricated data centers is the smartest solution because it provides flexibility, scalability, and smooth implementation,” says Hanna Oredsson, Sales Director, Schneider Electric.

In the Nordics, it is estimated that AI will represent the majority of the growth in energy consumption related to data centers by 2028. Modular, prefabricated data centers will be the best solution for meeting the upcoming AI needs. Why?

They are 30 percent faster to build and can be easily scaled and replicated in similar clusters, giving companies the agility they need to expand as needed.
Modular data centers are assembled by the supplier in factories staffed with competent, qualified employees in suitable, safe environments. This minimizes the need for work in connection with installation at the facility. The need for local labor is reduced, which is an advantage for Swedish companies that have difficulty finding labor with technical competence.
The standardized design based on prefabricated components offers optimal performance in terms of both cooling and energy efficiency – right from the start.
The significant reduction in risk factors and unpredictability often associated with traditional construction makes them a safer choice, not least economically: the costs for installation are more predictable.
Prefabricated data centers guarantee a high standard of energy efficiency and can, if necessary, include solutions for external monitoring and control.
The use of modular construction methods results in significantly less waste compared to traditional buildings, and a properly dimensioned design ensures optimal resource utilization.

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