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Echelon
Data Centres
Championing modular construction
To deliver such large projects efficiently at that scale, Echelon is placing a strategic bet on off-site manufacturing and assembly. The company sees significant potential in designing data centres that can be largely constructed off-site and then assembled on-site. While the principle of modularising mechanical, electrical and even IT systems is not new to the industry, Echelon has found a way of maximising the benefits of that approach. Even though certain elements like structural steel, cladding and facades will always need to be built on site, the company’ s view is that almost everything else could be manufactured off-site, shipped in and assembled on a plug-and-play basis. It is an approach that has the potential to dramatically reduce construction timelines and improve consistency across the programme.
Embracing modular construction is set to facilitate Echelon’ s project delivery, especially as it looks to expand geographically. One of the most exciting developments supporting the company’ s further expansion plans into Spain is a newly formed partnership with Iberdrola, a public energy firm.
While its operations are based in Spain, the Spanish energy giant possesses a global coverage, with operations spanning the Americas and the UK. Iberdrola builds generation assets such as wind farms, solar farms and renewable energy plants, but also forms part of the grid system in Spain.
Simply put, the firm constructs the overhead lines and underground cables that carry power across the Spanish countryside. For a power-focused company like Echelon, Iberdrola is an ideal partner with whom to explore a market that it has had its eye on for some time. ccemagazine. com 115