When evaluating or comparing data centers, a few master metrics matter most. These cut across design, economics, and operations, and together give a clear picture of competitiveness and health. 1. **Capacity (MW Deployed)** This is the total IT load a facility can support. It’s the core measure of scale and is used as the baseline for almost all other comparisons. 2. **Utilization (%)** Measures how much of the deployed capacity is actually in use. High utilization signals strong demand alignment, while low utilization points to overbuilding or mismatched planning. 3. **Capex per MW ($/MW)** The capital cost to build one megawatt of IT load. This is a critical benchmark for competitiveness, especially in markets where affordability and speed of deployment determine adoption. 4. **Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)** The global efficiency standard. A lower PUE indicates that a higher proportion of energy is being used for compute rather than overhead (cooling, lighting, etc.). 5. **Energy Cost and Mix ($/kWh, % Renewable)** Energy is the dominant operating expense. Both the unit cost and the percentage sourced from renewables determine operating margins, sustainability positioning, and long-term viability. 6. **Uptime / Reliability (Tier Level)** Measured in availability percentages (e.g., Tier III at 99.982%). Reliability underpins trust with customers and is non-negotiable for mission-critical workloads. ### **Why these matter:** Together, these six metrics tell the essential story of any data center: how much capacity it can deliver, how efficiently it was built, how cheaply and cleanly it can be powered, how much of it is actually in use, and how reliably it performs. They are the directional arrows investors, customers, and policymakers all look at when making decisions.