December 16, 2025 • 3 min read
Data centers: Solving complexity and enabling speed-to-market
The most powerful data centers aren’t just powered by electrons – they’re enabled by delivery partners who know how to navigate the rising complexity of infrastructure at scale and accelerate speed‑to‑market.
A market defined by complexity
By 2035, data centers could account for 2.2–6.2% of global electricity produced according to BloombergNEF. In the US, estimates are even higher – potentially reaching up to 11%. No other industry consumes as much power. For new and established players alike, the challenge is clear: deliver reliable, scalable power and grid infrastructure – and water or cooling alternatives – at speed, within budget and with long‑term resilience.
The question is no longer if complexity will arise, but how to manage it.
Today’s facilities aren’t simple builds. They’re first-of-a-kind industrial-scale developments, with power demands rivaling small cities. Communities and infrastructure requirements that stretch far beyond traditional playbooks.
“From behind-the-meter generation and advanced co-located power and cooling systems to water recycling, desalination, and community engagement, these projects are reshaping how infrastructure is delivered,” says Fabricio Sousa, Global President – Worley Consulting and Technology Solutions.
“And they’re doing so in environments where regulatory oversight, permitting complexity, and local impact are front and center. Those who master speed‑to‑market will shape the industry’s future.”
Why experience in complex industrial projects matters
As data centers scale, so do the risks.
- Grid interconnections can delay timelines by years.
- Equipment supply chains are stretched.
- 99.99% reliability or higher uptime is non-negotiable.
- Regulatory, environmental, and community requirements are increasingly complex and often shaped by local conditions.
- ESG and sustainability metrics must meet mandatory compliance and disclosure standards to satisfy financiers’ requirements.
These aren’t just engineering challenges – they’re strategic ones.
“Addressing these challenges and accelerating speed-to-market takes technical expertise, cross-industry experience, and the ability to manage complex infrastructure projects across their full lifecycle,” says Andrea Buetler, VP Data Centers, Worley.
Delivering the world’s most challenging data center projects
Powering the Future of AI: A 5GW Data Center in the US
We recently completed early engineering for a Gigawatt scale AI training data center campus in Texas. Our challenge included full facility build out planning to achieve 99.95% availability targets and a design that aligns to the air permit requirements of the region.
Project highlights
- At full scale, the project will feature approximately 5 GW (5,000 MW) gas power generation, up to 1,250 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV), and a utility-scale energy storage system (BESS).
- The GW scale microgrid has a large high voltage substations and transmission lines.
- 20 buildings of 250 MW each with a total space of 10 million square feet.
- Initially, the natural gas-fired generation will utilize simple cycle generators to streamline early-stage permitting, with plans to incorporate additional simple and combined cycle units.
Critical questions to ask before you build
Statistic Cards
Looking ahead
As demand for data centers grows, success will depend on balancing speed, scale, sustainability and resilience – and partners who understand the full spectrum of infrastructure delivery.
“We help data center developers navigate complexity confidently, delivering infrastructure solutions that support speed-to-market and long-term resilience,” concludes Buetler.
