Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Written by: Bailey Martin, Tech Journalist, AOPG.

Last week Schneider Electric (SE) gave Disruptive Tech News a ‘Golden Ticket’ to their prefab factory in Barcelona. This is where they manufacture and build data centre module hubs, ready for shipment and assembly at a moment’s notice. We got a closer look at Schneider’s data centre modules, which they explained can fulfil the development and deployment needs of their clients more quickly and efficiently compared to traditional data centres built from the ground up on a fixed location.

SE’s prefabricated systems and units can even be implemented into modern traditional data centres for further developments or for lower-cost transitions to next phases. I want to get into what Schneider showed us at their prefab facility and factory, but before that, I want to bring attention to their customers and partners first. As a fun opportunity, we were also given a tour of one of Schneider Electric’s customers’ buildings, which oddly enough, was the Basilica Sagrada Familia Church of Barcelona.

Faith Meets Future: Inside Sagrada Familia’s High-Tech Heart

Do you know that Schneider Electric and Barcelona’s colossal Sagrada Familia church have more in common than you’d think? Both are over a century old… They are both also still in ‘development’ even to this day. The difference is that the Sagrada Familia’s temple construction is set to be completed by the year 2026, while Schneider Electric’s aim for ‘development’ is a constant goal with no finish line. Their people are at the forefront of innovation and adaptation constantly.

Basilica Sagrada Familia Church of Barcelona

Another relation between them is that Schneider Electric has partnered with the CIO of the Sagrada Familia to provide them with prefabricated Data Centre Modules onsite. Now, why would a Catholic temple need data centre modules? Because even though it’s not yet completed, this gigantic architectural masterpiece is the star attraction to Barcelona and a must-see for all visitors, meaning the site attracts lots and lots of tourists…

With hurdles such as CRM software needed for tourism, ongoing construction projects, private funding, as well as various figures and data to keep track of on such a large scale, it’s no wonder they would need optimised data centre modules that are already prefabricated, then delivered and put together onsite in a timely fashion. This issue and solution can be compared to the similar data, software, and server needs of every enterprise and hyperscaler today!

The Advantages of Prefabricated Data Centres

Let’s revisit the origins of these data centres – Schneider’s Prefab Modular Data Centre Factory in Barcelona. Schneider Electric designs and plans ‘engineer-to-order’ (customised) modular data centres, which are then built and tested on their factory floors. While various ongoing projects for their clients were confidential and thus off-limits, all visible and non-private units were mapped out for us during our tour.

Upon first viewing the factory, we saw rows and rows of completed and finished data centre modules being tested. There were two main types of module hubs on display. The first was the ‘standard model,’ which could still be easily customised but with minor deviations from the standard design. These units were built and fitted into modified shipping containers, which served as the ‘shell’ for these data centre hubs. When given permission to walk inside one of them, the interior looked very much like a state-of-the-art server room, complete with racks, ventilation, cooling measures, and safety measures against fire. I stepped back outside of the ‘server room’ and was reminded again that it was all confined inside a modified shipping container. This is fitting given that the aim is to ship and assemble these hubs in record time.

Then there were the more customised ‘engineer-to-order’ data centre modules. When viewing these hubs and walking inside one of them, they were noticeably larger and differed from each other. Instead of modifying cargo containers, a custom ‘shell’ was built to fit the internal hardware and equipment. The number of racks was typically higher, but they included all the same safety measures as the standard models.

These customised data centre modules may take longer to manufacture; however, Shaheen Meeran, VP of Business Development at Schneider Electric, explained that this trade-off favours 100% utilisation. The design accommodates upgrades, developments, and additions to the hub should the clients’ requirements change over time. This approach is much more cost-effective, faster, and greener than traditional fixed-location data centres.

Shaheen expressed, “One great thing about prefabricated data centres on the sustainability value proposition is that prefabricated data centres are built for immediate need. If you require something built in the next 6 months which has size X, you build it now and fit for size X, and then 12 months later, [if] you need something else for an additional size Y, you build it then. Whereas traditional Data Centres build X plus Y on day one.”

Sustainable Solutions for Asia’s Growing Data Centre Needs

Even with the outlined points on sustainability, Shaheen Meeran further demonstrated Schneider Electric’s constant goal of ‘development’ and advancement. She stated, “We [the world] are not where we need to be again there. I think the level of maturity differs. Large data centre operators are beginning to I think, write their procurement tenders in a way that encourages you know, vendors like us to give them products and systems that are more sustainable. disclose the embodied carbon and so on.”

We can only hope that this trend and way of operating gains traction across Asia. Even a slow transition could be beneficial to enterprises here. Starting with Schneider Electric’s offerings to retrofit and right-size existing data centres would be one way to manage development. This alternative, instead of tearing down the location and rebuilding from the ground up, would save more time, cost, and materials. After all, Schneider’s key brand themes are Sustainability, Efficiency, and Development.

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