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# Why large data centres are not always more efficient
- URL: https://www.techstories.co/why-large-data-centres-are-not-always-more-efficient/
- Published: 2024-09-04T07:52:00.000Z
- Updated: 2024-09-07T08:08:38.000Z
- Description: It's true that a large data centre is more resource efficient - until it isn't.
- Author: Paul Mah
- Tags: Data Centres, Sustainability

Everyone say big data centres are more efficient. It’s true, until it isn’t. Then things can get much worse.

Last week, I wrote about how [larger data centres offer better efficiency](https://www.techstories.co/why-are-we-building-such-massive-data-centres/) than smaller ones due to economies of scale.

But massive data centres are not always more resource efficient. I highlight two real-life cases.

**When decisions get forced**

A industry contact recently told me about a Johor data centre that resorted to air-cooled chillers instead of water-based evaporative systems.

While this saves substantial water due to reduced water loss, such chillers consume more energy, resulting in a higher PUE an engineer estimated at up to 1.5.

The theory was that the facility couldn’t secure adequate water supply, unlike another data centre in the vicinity.

Unfortunately for a hyperscale data centre, this means the unfavourable PUE gets locked in for its entire operational lifespan.

**PS**: Chillers are typically located on the roof of data centres in Johor, so there’s no hiding them.

**When inexperience meets hyperscale**

Fresh from my [visit to Schneider Electric’s factory in Barcelona](https://www.techstories.co/as-power-capacity-doubles-data-centres-must-evolve/), I related the possibility of microclimates forming around data centres to a technical data centre leader.

To my surprise, he shared an anecdote of touring an almost-completed data centre where he spotted a massive design error involving this issue.

- Chillers placed too close together.
- Resulting ambient temperature too high.
- When operational, they won’t operate optimally.

He didn't know if the team rectified the mistake, though he conceded it was unlikely given the advanced state of construction.

**Bigger doesn't always mean better**

So there you go. Larger data centres can be more resource efficient, but this assumes proper design and implementation.

On the other hand, whatever mistakes made by a hyperscale data centre operator gets amplified on a far larger scale.

Do you have horror stories of data centre built wrong? Leave a comment or drop me a direct message.

****Fun fact**: Did you know that a completed data centre is often quite different from what was planned at the design phase?