Data‑centre boom strains supply chain
Rapid global construction of data centres is delaying delivery of critical equipment and pushing prices higher for items like generators. BNamericas reported timelines doubling for some components and price increases up to 35%, while coverage of India’s build‑out noted large GW targets that will sustain demand for infrastructure. Those delays are competing with industrial buyers and could extend lead times for automation or power equipment. (bnamericas.com) (thehindubusinessline.com)
Data-center construction is moving so fast that buyers are waiting longer and paying more for the equipment that keeps those sites running, including backup generators. (bnamericas.com) BNamericas reported that delivery timelines for some critical components have doubled and prices for some generators have risen by as much as 35% as developers race to secure power gear for new facilities. The crunch is hitting equipment used to build and operate data centers, from electrical systems to industrial hardware. (bnamericas.com) The build-out is not confined to one market. In India, property consultant Vestian said data-centre capacity could reach 5 gigawatts by 2030, with more than 700 megawatts under construction and another 1.2 gigawatts in planning. (thehindubusinessline.com) Vestian also said India’s data-centre market could exceed $22 billion by 2030, a pipeline that points to years of demand for generators, switchgear, cooling systems and other heavy electrical equipment. (thehindubusinessline.com) Consultants and industry researchers have been warning that supply bottlenecks are now part of the sector’s growth story. Boston Consulting Group said in January 2025 that data-center operators were preparing about $1.8 trillion in capital deployment from 2024 to 2030, even as supply-chain constraints threatened expansion. (bcg.com) The squeeze is spilling beyond tech. BNamericas said data-center buyers are competing with industrial customers for the same generators and power equipment, which can lengthen lead times for factory automation and other non-data-center projects. (bnamericas.com) Power demand helps explain why the queue is getting longer. The International Energy Agency said electricity used by data centres worldwide is projected to rise from 460 terawatt-hours in 2024 to more than 1,000 terawatt-hours in 2030 in its base case. (iea.org) Operators are already reporting higher costs. Uptime Institute said in its 2024 global survey that owning and operating data centres had become increasingly expensive since 2021, with 51% of vendor respondents reporting higher-than-normal spending patterns. (uptimeinstitute.com) The shortages are now visible in the United States as well. Bloomberg reported on April 1 that more than half of the U.S. data centers planned for 2026 were expected to be delayed, with shortages of transformers, switchgear and batteries among the reasons. (bloomberg.com) For builders, the race is no longer only about land, chips or financing. It is also about who can lock in the diesel engines, transformers and electrical rooms before the next project does. (bnamericas.com)
