Tim Heidel from VEIR discusses the biggest oversight in improving power density for data centers: failing to recognize the rapid pace of change and the different contexts in which solutions are needed. He notes that power consumption has escalated from 10-20 kilowatts to several hundred kilowatts and is expected to reach megawatts soon.
He emphasizes the importance of aligning solutions with the appropriate time scale and deployment context, as current needs differ from future requirements. He also highlights the diversity of data centers and the varying performance and density goals they pursue. Joshua Feinberg agrees that understanding both the current context and the time horizon is crucial for effective planning.
This video is excerpted from Ep. 152 Tim Heidel, CEO & Founder of VEIR | Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast.
Action Items
- Document and publish a clear mapping of deployment time horizons (today, 18–24 months, long-term multi-megawatt) to recommended power-density solution contexts and design implications, so stakeholders avoid talking past each other
- Create an architectural decision checklist that outlines different power-distribution and facility design choices required for higher-power server racks (e.g., 100kW+, 600–800kW, megawatt-class) to guide upcoming projects
- Segment the types of data centers by use case and produce guidance on where high-density / AI-optimized solutions have a clear business case versus where conventional designs remain appropriate
In the race to support AI workloads and ever-higher compute demands, one of the biggest mistakes data center leaders make is confusing contexts and time horizons when planning for power density.
In this episode of the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast, Joshua Feinberg talks with Tim Heidel of VEIR about how quickly power requirements are escalating—and why many teams are still thinking in yesterday’s terms.
Just a few years ago, typical server racks might have drawn 10–20 kW. Today, many operators are already working with tens to hundreds of kilowatts per rack, and in the near future, designs for 600–800 kW and even megawatt-class racks are on the table.
Tim explains that different stakeholders are often talking past each other because they’re solving different problems on different timelines. Some are focused on what they’re deploying right now—sub‑100 kW racks going into facilities now.
Others are designing projects for 18–24 months out, where much higher rack densities and new power-distribution architectures will be required. And a third group is already thinking in terms of multi‑megawatt racks and 25 MW pods, an entirely different design space.
The solutions appropriate for megawatt-class racks can be overkill and economically unjustified for more conventional, non‑AI environments. That’s why Tim stresses the importance of being explicit about time scale, deployment context, and use case whenever teams discuss power density strategy.
Not every data center needs to push the limits of density today. But every operator does need to understand where their roadmap is headed, what assumptions are baked into their designs, and how quickly their requirements may change. Getting that alignment right is key to avoiding costly missteps as power density ramps up.
Guest Resources
Watch the full podcast Ep. 152 Tim Heidel, CEO & Founder of VEIR | Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast
- Connect with Tim Heidel, CEO & Founder at VEIR, on LinkedIn
- Follow VEIR on LinkedIn
- Learn About VEIR
Resources
- Connect with Joshua Feinberg, CEO at DCSMI, on LinkedIn
- Follow DCSMI on LinkedIn
- Follow the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast on LinkedIn
- Learn About DCSMI
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