The global data centre market is growing at a pace few industries have seen before. Capacity is expected to nearly double to 200 GW by 2030, driven primarily by the surge in demand for AI and generative AI workloads. Projections from JLL point to a 14% compound annual growth rate, with around $1.2 trillion USD in real estate value creation and a further $1–2 trillion USD in technology infrastructure spending across data centre fit-outs.
But the infrastructure required to power, build and operate these facilities has become as complex as the technology they support. Grid connections can take a decade. Equipment lead-times stretch to seven years. A single 100 MW facility can cost more than $5 billion. Sustainability requirements are tightening while uptime standards remain absolute.
This white paper examines the six challenges shaping data centre electrification today: grid capacity constraints, equipment lead-times, fossil fuel dependency, capital cost, workforce shortages and sustainability pressure. It outlines how developers and operators are responding, and how Cyient’s engineering expertise supports clients navigating this landscape.