Electrical Infrastructure for Growing Data Centers.
- Grupo Edmar
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
September 26, 2025 - Growing Data Centers.
What electrical requirements does a data center require?
A data center isn't just a building with servers; it's the digital heart of businesses, banks, streaming services, and governments. Its electrical infrastructure must ensure:
24/7 availability: without interruptions or cuts.
High capacity: Computing, storage and cooling equipment require large amounts of power.
Stability: Voltage or frequency variations can damage sensitive servers.
Scalability: They must be ready to grow their electricity consumption as demand increases.
For example, a medium-sized data center can consume the same amount of energy as a small city. This reflects the magnitude of the electrical challenge involved in operating them.
Redundant Power Supply Design.
Redundancy is synonymous with safety. In practice, it means there is always more than one power supply path ready to cover a fault. The most common schemes are:
N+1: one extra component available.
2N: two complete systems operating in parallel, completely independent.
2N+1: two complete systems plus an additional backup.
This doesn't just apply to transformers or UPSs, but also to power distribution within the data center. Mission-critical facilities can't rely on a single point of failure. A typical case: if a main transformer goes down, the backup system kicks in within seconds, and the servers don't even notice.
Suitable Transformers: Capacity, Efficiency and Quality.
The transformer is the first filter between the electrical grid and the computer equipment. Choosing the right one makes all the difference. Low-efficiency transformers generate more losses, heat, and costs. High-quality transformers:
They reduce energy losses and therefore save money in the long run.
They have robust insulation to withstand high temperatures.
They resist harmonics and non-linear loads common in electronic equipment.
They are designed to operate in local environments (e.g. humidity on the coast, altitude in cities like Mexico City).
A specialized transformer for data centers isn't a luxury; it's a necessity that ensures reliable operation and extends the life of the entire electrical system.
Electrical Protections: What you can't see, but saves operations.
Electricity brings with it risks. Data centers install multiple layers of protection to shield their equipment:
Surge suppression systems: protect against sudden surges and variations.
Smart circuit breakers: detect faults and shut down only the affected area, not the entire building.
Robust physical grounds: prevent static energy build-up and damaging discharges.
Monitoring sensors: alert about anomalies such as current spikes, ground faults, or phase imbalance.
For example, a thunderstorm can cause a surge that damages entire server racks. With a proper protection system, that energy is diverted to ground, allowing uninterrupted operation.
Backup Infrastructure: UPS, Generators and Energy Storage.
Backup power is the second line of defense. If the main grid fails, backup systems must automatically kick in:
UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply): These maintain stable power for seconds or minutes, long enough for generators to kick in.
Emergency generators: These power the load for hours or days. They must have sufficient fuel and recharging plans.
State-of-the-art batteries: lithium or modular technologies that offer greater autonomy and less maintenance.
In Tier IV data centers, the highest standard, these systems are even tested weekly to ensure they function at any critical moment.
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Impact on Electrical Infrastructure.
More than 30% of a data center's energy can be used for cooling. Keeping servers cool isn't a luxury; it's what prevents them from shutting down due to overheating.
Industrial air conditioning systems (CRAC): control temperature and humidity.
Direct-to-chip liquid cooling: a trend in large data centers due to its high efficiency.
Free cooling: When the outside climate is favorable, natural air is used to reduce electricity consumption.
For example, a server operating at 25°C consumes more energy than one operating at 20°C because heat increases the resistance of the components. Therefore, the electrical design must always consider the cooling load as part of the total.
Scalability: Planning to grow without interruptions.
The demand for data grows year after year. Data centers must be designed with expansion in mind:
Channels and electrical ducts ready for greater capacity.
Spaces provided for additional transformers or UPS.
Modular infrastructure that can be expanded in stages without affecting what is already installed.
Future consumption planning considering trends such as AI and Big Data.
A common mistake is sizing infrastructure for current needs. The most successful projects plan for at least 5 to 10 years of growth and avoid costly reconfiguration projects.
Regulations, Certifications and Standards in Reliability.
Data centers are classified into levels (Tier I to IV) according to the Uptime Institute , which measures redundancy, availability, and security. They must also comply with:
IEEE, ANSI and IEC in your electrical equipment.
ISO 27001 in information security.
ISO 50001 in energy efficiency.
NOM and CFE standards in the case of Mexico.
These certifications are not just a legal or business requirement: they are the foundation for ensuring a data center can attract international clients seeking a guarantee of continuity.
Proactive Maintenance and Continuous Monitoring.
In a data center, prevention is the best strategy. The electrical infrastructure must be continuously reviewed and measured:
Load testing on transformers and UPS.
Thermography to detect hot spots on boards.
Review of connections, fuses and disconnectors.
Blackout drills to validate system reaction.
Real-time monitoring allows anomalies to be detected before they become failures. For example, if a transformer begins to show an increase in oil temperature, it can be addressed before a major failure occurs.
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