Temporary Chiller Hire for London Data Centre During Critical Infrastructure Upgrade

Project Background

A London data centre operator approached Rapid Energy to provide a temporary cooling hire solution while permanent rooftop chillers were being replaced as part of a major infrastructure upgrade.

For data centres, maintaining stable operating temperatures is non-negotiable. Any loss of cooling can place critical equipment at risk, threaten service continuity, and create significant operational consequences. The client needed a dependable temporary cooling solution to maintain uninterrupted temperature control throughout the replacement works while meeting strict site requirements for access, safety, and noise.

Rapid Energy were called upon to provide a complete temporary chiller hire package that would protect operations throughout the project.

Equipment Supplied

2 x 360kW Heat Pump Chillers
2 x 200kW Heat Pump Chillers
2 x 1,400 l/min Fluid Pumps
2 x 800 l/min Fluid Pumps
340m Steel Braided Hose
1 x 16m TG20:21 Scaffolding Access Tower
1 x 18m TG20:21 Scaffolding Access Tower
100m x 150mm Lit-Lit Cable
150m x 95mm Lit-Lit Cable

Challenges

The original scaffold design needed to span a 6-metre access route, requiring a more complex and costly solution.
The site had strict noise restrictions, requiring a temporary cooling solution with effective sound reduction measures.
As a critical environment operating 24/7, the facility required ongoing technical support and proactive monitoring throughout the temporary hire period.
During the quotation and survey phase, one of the site’s existing chillers suffered an unexpected weekend failure, creating the potential need for an emergency cooling rental installation at very short notice.

London Data Centre Challenges Graphic

Our Solution

Following a detailed site survey, we identified an alternative scaffold location that allowed the structure to be safely tied into the building, eliminating the need for a costly bespoke scaffold design while maintaining full compliance with safety standards.
We specified heat pump chillers with appropriate sound reduction measures to ensure the temporary cooling system met the site’s operational requirements.
When the client experienced an unexpected chiller failure during the planning phase, our team immediately offered an out-of-hours emergency response and prepared resources for a rapid deployment if required.
Following this failure, the client asked for the project to be accelerated, so we mobilised quickly and began installation just two days later.
To provide additional assurance, Rapid Energy engineers conducted weekly site inspections throughout the first month of operation, delivering ongoing technical support and proactive system checks.

Rapid Energy chillers at a data centre in London

Location

Outcome

By providing a temporary chiller solution, Rapid Energy enabled the client to maintain critical cooling operations while successfully completing the rooftop chiller replacement and associated infrastructure upgrades.

By simplifying the installation, meeting the site’s noise requirements, and providing ongoing support throughout the project, our team delivered reliable temporary cooling with complete peace of mind for the client.