An extra one million tonnes of cement will be required in the USA to construct data centres to house artificial intelligence (AI) over the next few years; something Australia may have to look at as well.
A recent report by the American Cement Association (ACA), formerly the Portland Cement Association, predicts the US will need high volumes of concrete for this specialised construction due to their unique design considerations.
ACA President and CEO, Mike Ireland, said data centres are engineered for function and resilience.
“Concrete—made with cement—is the optimal construction material, as it is fire resistant, offers thermal stability, provides unparalleled physical security, and has long-term structural integrity,” he said. “There really is no other viable material for such an important nationwide effort.”
ACA analysists found that annual spending on data centres is about US$27.4 billion, with the number of centres growing 850% since 2015, and by 2027 there will be around 6000.
The data centre construction market in Australia is projected to reach US$11.12 billion this year. There are currently 259 facilities with more under construction and in the planning.
Image: Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com