In addition, the power appetite of data centers is projected to increase significantly over the next several years. Experts say the centers use as much power as heavy manufacturing plants, and four times as much as the typical office building. And the co-location firms are continually building data centers to keep up with the growth of the Internet.
Analysts call the potential for data centers crashing remote.
Exodus and Abovenet both say they have extensive backup measures in place in case the power goes out. Abovenet, a subsidiary of White Plains, N.Y.-based MetroMedia Fiber Networks, offers up similar reassurances. However, Abovenet keeps only enough diesel fuel on site for 40 hours of operation. Abovenet's parent company, Metromedia Fiber Networks, recently deployed a new advanced continuous power supply system that uses no batteries. It delivers power through a combination of means including flywheels and diesel engines.