Data Center Campus Layer
The data center campus layer integrates multiple data center facilities with shared energy, utilities, cooling, fiber backbones, and security perimeters. It is the scale at which AI “factories” operate—where siting, grid interconnects, water strategy, and land-use planning determine feasibility, cost, and time-to-serve.
Architecture & Design Trends
- Siting & Grid Capacity: Proximity to high-capacity substations, transmission corridors, and renewable resources drives location decisions.
- Onsite Substations: 200–500+ MW step-down yards with dual utility feeds and looped transmission to improve resilience.
- Energy Autonomy: Co-located renewables + BESS + CHP/gas turbines for peak shaving, reliability, and carbon targets.
- District Cooling: Central chiller/thermal plants serving multiple halls with shared piping, with water reuse loops.
- Water Strategy: Rights, sourcing, treatment, recycling, and discharge are planned at campus scale to de-risk permits.
- Fiber & Backbones: Diverse metro routes, dark fiber options, and regional interconnects for low-latency workloads.
- Security & Zoning: Outer fences, berms, setbacks, vehicle screening, and controlled access roads across the site.
- Prefabrication: Modular substations, utility blocks, and cooling plants shorten schedule and standardize quality.
- Digital Twins: Campus-level simulation of power, cooling, and operations for planning and live optimization.
AI Campuses vs Enterprise Campuses
| Dimension | AI Campus | Enterprise Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Scale (Power) | 500 MW – 1 GW+, multi-facility | <50 MW, few facilities |
| Energy Strategy | Onsite substations, renewables + BESS, CHP | Utility power, limited onsite storage |
| Cooling | District plants, shared thermal loops | Facility-level CRAC/CRAH |
| Water | Rights, treatment, 60–90% reuse targets | Municipal supply, limited reuse |
| Grid Interconnect | Dedicated HV feeders, dual utility tie | Shared feeders, single tie |
| Build Method | Heavy prefab (substations, utility blocks) | Mostly stick-built |
| Security | Perimeter zones, controlled roads, screening | Facility-focused access control |
| Timeline | 3–7 years incl. interconnects | 1–3 years build-out |
| Capex | $2B–$10B+ per campus | $100M–$500M |
Vendors
Campus-scale delivery blends energy OEMs, EPCs/campus builders, and prefab/utility integrators orchestrated under utility constraints.
Energy & Infrastructure OEMs
| Vendor | Product / Solution | Domain | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitachi Energy | HV substations, transformers | Power | Grid tie-ins, high-efficiency transformers |
| Siemens | GIS switchgear, transformers, protection | Power | Compact GIS yards, digital protection relays |
| ABB | HV/MV switchgear, prefab substations | Power | EconiQ low-GWP options, modular builds |
| GE Vernova | Transformers, grid solutions | Power | Transmission-to-campus integration |
| Tesla Energy | Megapack BESS | Energy Storage | Grid-scale battery blocks for peak shaving |
| Fluence | Grid battery systems | Energy Storage | Utility-scale BESS and EMS software |
| Vestas / First Solar | Wind turbines / PV modules | Renewables | Onsite or adjacent renewable capacity |
| ENGIE / Veolia | District cooling & energy services | Cooling/Water | Thermal plants, water reuse, O&M |
EPCs & Campus Builders
| Firm | Expertise | Notable Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Bechtel | Mega-scale EPC for power and industrial campuses | Substations, transmission, multi-facility sites |
| Black & Veatch | Power systems, grid interconnects, data centers | Integrated energy + data center delivery |
| AECOM | Global EPC, environmental & permitting | EIAs, civil, utilities, multi-year programs |
| Jacobs | Utilities, water, and mission-critical EPC | District cooling, water reuse, campus planning |
| Burns & McDonnell | Substations, grid, and campus data centers | Design-build for energy-intensive sites |
| Kiewit | Power/industrial EPC, civil works | Foundations, heavy electrical, utilities |
Prefabricators & Utility Integrators
| Vendor | Solution | Domain | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Datacenters | Campus-scale prefab data halls | Prefabrication | Factory-built modules, rapid site build-out |
| Modular Power Solutions (MPS) | Electrical skids & utility blocks | Power | Pre-tested switchgear/UPS skids |
| ABB Prefab Substations | Containerized HV/MV substations | Power | Shorter schedules, standardized protection |
| ENGIE / Veolia | Packaged district cooling/water reuse plants | Cooling/Water | Thermal energy storage, reclaimed water loops |
| Siemens / Hitachi Energy | Prefab utility modules, protection & controls | Power/Controls | SCADA integration, modular protection bays |
Bill of Materials (BOM)
| Domain | Examples | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Compute & IT | Multiple facilities, aggregated pods/clusters | Provides regional-scale AI capacity |
| Networking | Campus core, dark fiber, diverse metro routes | Connects facilities and ties into regional backbones |
| Power | HV substations, transformers, HV/MV feeders, SSTs | Delivers high-voltage power across the campus |
| Energy Systems | Solar/wind, CHP/turbines, BESS (battery storage) | Enables energy autonomy and peak shaving |
| Cooling & Water | District cooling plants, storage tanks, reuse/recycling | Shares thermal capacity and conserves water |
| Water Treatment | Intake conditioning, RO/UF, blowdown treatment | Assures water quality and compliant discharge |
| Security & Access | Perimeter fencing, berms, guard posts, vehicle barriers | Protects campus-wide assets and personnel |
| Monitoring & Controls | SCADA, EMS, integrated DCIM, site-wide telemetry | Provides centralized visibility and coordination |
| Land & Civil Works | Earthworks, stormwater, access roads, rail spurs | Enables constructability and logistics at scale |
| Prefabrication | Modular substations, utility blocks, packaged plants | Reduces schedule and integration risk |
| Regulatory & Compliance | Permits, EIAs, water rights, interconnect agreements | Clears legal and environmental constraints |
Key Challenges
- Grid Interconnect Lead Times: Multi-year waits for transmission upgrades and substation approvals.
- Power Scale & Reliability: Delivering 500 MW–1 GW with N+1 or 2N resilience across sites.
- Water Stewardship: Securing rights, minimizing freshwater draw, and meeting discharge standards.
- Community & Permitting: Land use, noise, traffic, and environmental impact mitigation.
- Supply & Logistics: Long-lead transformers, switchgear, and chillers; transport constraints.
- Sustainability Targets: Matching corporate carbon goals with credible energy sourcing and accounting.
Future Outlook
- Gigawatt Campuses: Consolidation into few mega-sites near robust grids and renewable hubs.
- Advanced Storage: Multi-hour BESS, thermal storage, and potentially new chemistries for grid support.
- HVDC & Grid Modernization: Long-distance corridors and DC distribution pilots for efficiency and control.
- Water Circularity: Near-closed-loop systems with reclaimed, brackish, or desalinated inputs.
- AI-Driven Operations: Digital twins and ML optimization for dispatch, cooling, and maintenance.
- Industrial Co-location: Campuses adjacent to fabs and gigafactories to share energy and logistics.
FAQ
- How large is a typical AI campus? Hundreds of megawatts up to gigawatt scale, spanning multiple buildings and utility yards.
- What drives site selection? Grid capacity, renewable proximity, water availability, fiber diversity, and permitting environment.
- How long does it take? 3–7 years including interconnect approvals and major equipment lead times.
- Do campuses run on renewables? Many pursue PPAs, onsite solar/wind, and BESS; true 24/7 carbon matching is still evolving.
- Who builds them? EPCs integrate OEM equipment and prefab modules, coordinated with utilities and local authorities.
- How is cooling handled? District cooling plants with shared loops, thermal storage, and aggressive water reuse targets.