A global trend of data centers has set off, and a picture tells you how valuable a data center is

The demand for artificial intelligence, cloud services and large data analysis has surged, and data centers have become the basic construction of the new generation. BofA Global Research has shown that by 2025, the construction cost of a data center will reach US$39 million (about NT$1.166 billion). Fund allocation covers servers, network equipment, cooling systems, power-based facilities and construction projects in multiple directions, outlining a global supply chain map.

The picture points out that servers are still the core investment of the data center, with a total cost of US$25 million (about NT$747 million) per megawatt, accounting for more than 60% of the total cost. The main suppliers include Dell, HP Enterprise and Super Micro, which have various servers such as general computing and artificial intelligence acceleration, making it the most powerful "computing core" in the data center industry.

The server is integrated with network equipment, with investment of US$4.3 million (about NT$1285 million) per megawatt. Driven by the demand for high frequency width and low latency, companies such as Arista Networks, Cisco, Huawei, and NVIDIA are competing for the market. Especially the NVIDIA part, in addition to high-speed GPU computing, it uses Mellanox to enter the high-speed network field to enhance the advantages of "computing + network".

The invisible hero of the cooling system to maintain high-efficiency computing

The server energy consumption has increased, and cooling demand has become the key to data center design. Although the total cost of cooling equipment accounts for only a small part, stability directly affects the computing efficiency. Cooling Towers cost about USD 100,000 per megawatt (about NT$2.98 million), and the main suppliers are SPX Technologies, Evapco, and Baltimore Aircoil.

Chillers: Investment of US$400,000 per megawatt (about NT$11.95 million) led by manufacturers such as Johnson Controls, Trane, Kaili Carrier, Daikin. Special air conditioners for machine rooms (CRAHs) consume about US$600,000 per megawatt (about NT$17.93 million), mainly from suppliers Vertiv, Stulz, and Johnson Controls. Liquid cooling technology is more popular, and there may be new technologies and supply chain changes in the cooling market.

Power-based facilities guarantee never stops

The data center has a very high dependence on power, with power-related investments totaling USD 2.6 million (about NT$77.7 million) per megawatt, ensuring that the system can maintain operation under any circumstances. In addition, generators cost USD 800,000 per megawatt (about NT$23.91 million) and are provided by Caterpillar, Cummins, and Rolls Royce for power outage assistance.

There is also investment in the continuous power system (UPS) of USD 900,000 per megawatt (about NT$26.9 million), and the main suppliers are Schneider, Eaton, and Vertiv to ensure the instantaneous power supply when the municipal power is interrupted. The switchgear and power distribution system are respectively spent 500,000 and 400,000 US dollars per megawatt (about NT$14.94 million and NT$11.95 million), and are also directed by Schneider, Vertiv and Eaton. Although these facilities are not the protagonists, they are the "energy blood" that supports the stability of the data center.

Engineering and construction costs are hidden high-cost areas

In addition to the hardware, the data center also requires large-scale design and construction funds. Engineering Fee: About US$400,000 per megawatt (NT$11.95 million), professional services provided by Jacobs, Burns & McDonnell, HP Enterprise. Construction Fee is up to US$900,000 per megawatt (about NT$26.9 million) and is borne by buildings such as Holder, HITT, Turner, etc. The project cost highlighting data center is not a single technological facility, but a super-large basic construction project covering civil engineering, motor and information technology.

Global supply chain picture is led by the United States, Europe and Asia are in a row

From the supplier distribution, American manufacturers occupy a dominant position in servers, networks and power equipment, including Dell, HPE, Cisco, NVIDIA, Caterpillar, etc. European companies such as Rolls Royce, Stulz, and Schneider still have advantages in the fields of power generation, cooling and power management. In Asia, in order to not be ignored in the Internet equipment market, Japan's Daikin cooling technology has shown its strength. The overall global supply chain shows a pattern of "the United States leads, European support, and Asia's rise". In the future, geopolitical and technological wars will be added, and the division of labor system may change.