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Facebook Looks to Emerson to Design “Rapid Deployment Data Center”

May 07, 2014 by Jeff Shepard

Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson today announced that it is working with Facebook to design and deploy the company's second data center building in Luleå, Sweden. The innovative approach is expected to enable Facebook to quickly add capacity at its data center sites. Luleå 2 will span approximately 125,000 sq. ft. and Emerson will deliver over 250 shippable modules, including power skids, evaporative air handlers, a water treatment plant, and data center superstructure solutions.

It will be built next to Facebook’s first data center building in Luleå, which came online in June 2013. Like its predecessor, Luleå 2 will be one of the most efficient and sustainable data centers in the world, powered by 100 percent renewable energy and featuring the latest in Open Compute Project server, storage, mechanical, and electrical designs.

“Luleå 2” will be the pilot for Facebook’s new “rapid deployment data center,” (RDDC), which was designed and developed in collaboration with Emerson Network Power’s data center design team. Facebook’s RDDC incorporates a number of modular design elements, including pre-fabricated materials and on-site assembly, to enable an increase in the speed of deployment and reduction in material use.

“We worked with Facebook to understand their wants and needs, and we collectively developed an integrated, cost-effective, tailored solution,” said Scott Barbour, global business leader of Emerson Network Power. “This collaboration with Facebook illustrates our competencies in modular construction and showcases next-generation thinking. Emerson is able to deliver innovative, global, turnkey data center solutions comprising design, construction, critical infrastructure equipment, building management system, and services.”

“Because of our relentless focus on efficiency, we are always looking for ways to optimize our data centers including accelerating build times and reducing material use,” said Jay Park, director of data center design, Facebook. “We are excited to work with Emerson to pilot the RDDC concept in Luleå and apply it at the scale of a Facebook data center.”