Data Center Investment News — 10/05/2024
Brookfield-Backed Data4 Plans to Build €500M Milan Data Centre Campus
Data4, a data center operator backed by Brookfield Asset Management, has announced plans to invest €500 million in building a state-of-the-art data center campus in Milan, Italy. The project aims to meet the growing demand for digital infrastructure in Italy and across Europe, leveraging Milan’s strategic location as a major connectivity hub.
Davide Suppia, Country Director, Vice President Sales and IDA Board Member of Data4 Italia, commented: “For the development of our digital infrastructure in Italy, Data4 plans to invest £1 billion between 2023 and 2029 for the implementation of other data centres and innovative projects aimed at reducing the environmental impact related to our activities. With this strategic investment, Data4 reaffirms itself as one of the leaders in the Italian and European data centre industry.”
The campus will offer high-quality colocation and cloud services, supporting businesses’ evolving IT requirements and facilitating digital transformation initiatives. With this investment, Data4 aims to strengthen its presence in the European data center market and contribute to Italy’s digital economy.
Tract Breaks Ground on First Phase of 2GW Data Centre Real Estate Roll-Out
Tract, a data center developer, has commenced the first phase of its ambitious plan to roll out 2 gigawatts (GW of data center real estate. The groundbreaking marks a significant milestone in Tract’s strategic expansion initiatives, aiming to address the increasing demand for data center capacity worldwide.
Grant van Rooyen, CEO of Tract, said: “The commencement of construction at Peru Shelf launches the first of Tract’s projects in Northern Nevada and I am pleased to see the physical manifestation of our planning. We see long-term potential for the greater Reno data centre cluster to support rapid deployment of cloud and AI data centers. Our investment in master-planned digital infrastructure will continue to scale significantly in the coming years.”
The development will feature cutting-edge infrastructure to support high-density computing requirements and deliver reliable and scalable services to meet the needs of cloud providers, enterprises, and hyperscale customers.
Stack Infrastructure Launches 220MW Texas Data Centre Project
Stack Infrastructure has initiated a new data center project in Texas, aiming to deliver 220 megawatts (MW of critical IT capacity to meet the growing demand for data center services in the region. The project underscores Stack’s commitment to expanding its presence in key markets and supporting the digital infrastructure needs of customers.
Ty Miller, Chief Commercial Officer, STACK Americas, said: “We continue to observe a steady demand for powered, large-scale campuses, particularly in established or growing markets.
“This latest announcement reinforces our commitment to providing certainty and scalability for our clients, along with a favourable delivery target of mid-2026.”
Also commenting, Lancaster Mayor Clyde Hairston said: “It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome STACK Data Centers to the Lancaster community.
“Their decision to invest here is a clear signal of our city’s dynamic and robust economic landscape.”
STACK has been rapidly expanding its real estate portfolio which currently amounts to 6GW of operational, under development and planned capacity.
The state-of-the-art facility will leverage sustainable design principles and advanced technologies to ensure energy efficiency and operational reliability, catering to the evolving requirements of cloud computing, content delivery, and enterprise workloads.
Telia to Add 4MW to Helsinki Data Center
Telia, a leading telecommunications company, has announced plans to expand its data center capacity in Helsinki, Finland, by adding 4 megawatts (MW of power. The expansion aims to meet the growing demand for data center services in the region, driven by increased digitalization and cloud adoption.
Telia said it was building out the new capacity to meet increased demand for AI. Located in Helsinki’s Pitäjänmäki suburb and launched in 2018 with 24MW of capacity, the colocation site currently spans 34,000 square meters. Telia previously told DCD that the site could eventually grow to support up to 100MW of IT load.
The additional capacity will enhance Telia’s ability to deliver secure and reliable services to its customers, supporting their digital transformation efforts. The expansion project aligns with Telia’s commitment to sustainability, with a focus on energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Meta to Build $800M Data Center in Montgomery, Alabama
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has announced plans to invest $800 million in building a new data center in Montgomery, Alabama. The project represents a significant commitment to expanding Meta’s digital infrastructure and supporting its global operations.
Brad Davis, director of community and economic development at Meta, said: “The city – and our specific location – offers great access to infrastructure and renewable energy, a strong pull of talent, and most importantly, an amazing set of community partners.”
The data center will be equipped with advanced technologies to ensure high performance, reliability, and security. Additionally, Meta’s investment is expected to create jobs and drive economic growth in the region, further solidifying Alabama’s position as a key location for data center development.
Ardent Breaks Ground on Pittsburgh Data Center Upgrade
Ardent, a data center operator, has commenced construction on an upgrade project for its data center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The upgrade aims to enhance the facility’s capacity, resilience, and efficiency, ensuring it can meet the evolving needs of customers for reliable and secure data center services.
Aroosh Thillainathan, founder and CEO at Northern Data Group, said: “The continued progress that our Ardent team is making supports Northern Data Group in providing the infrastructure required to fully capitalize on the high-performance computing (HPC) market.”
The project underscores Ardent’s commitment to investing in its infrastructure and supporting the growth of its customer base. The upgraded data center is expected to be a key asset in Pittsburgh’s digital ecosystem, providing critical infrastructure for businesses and organizations in the region.
US AI Startup Plans Massive 386MW Data Center in Morocco
A US-based artificial intelligence (AI startup has announced plans to construct a colossal 386-megawatt (MW data center in Morocco. The data center, aimed at supporting the company’s AI research and development efforts, represents a significant investment in Morocco’s digital infrastructure.
The project will be known as Eureka Park, and alongside the data center will be home to Ryse Research, an incubator for startups and an education center to prepare Moroccans for employment at the park. It will also feature an “AI Expo,” which will showcase “the latest global AI advancements from startups and large enterprises.”
The project is expected to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and position Morocco as a strategic hub for data-intensive industries. Additionally, the data center’s advanced capabilities will contribute to the development of AI technologies and innovation in the region, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Tract Announces 2.4GW Data Center Park Outside Richmond, Virginia
Tract, a leading developer, has unveiled plans to establish a massive 2.4-gigawatt (GW data center park in close proximity to Richmond, Virginia. The ambitious project aims to meet the escalating demand for data center capacity driven by digital transformation initiatives across various industries.
Tract and Dominion Energy have already ordered long lead equipment for the initial substation and power for bridging purposes is expected as early as 2026.
“The US economy’s demand for services provided from data centers continues to grow. We worked with the State of Virginia and Hanover County to responsibly site this project in an area planned for light industrial uses to maximize community benefits and minimize impacts to neighbors,” said Grant van Rooyen, CEO of Tract.
The data center park will offer state-of-the-art infrastructure and services to support the needs of hyperscale cloud providers, enterprises, and technology companies. Tract’s investment underscores Virginia’s appeal as a prime location for data center development, leveraging the region’s robust connectivity, favorable business environment, and skilled workforce.
Digital Realty Breaks Ground on 31MW Inzai Data Center in Japan
Digital Realty, a global provider of data center solutions, has initiated construction on a new 31-megawatt (MW data center facility in Inzai, Japan. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of the development phase for the state-of-the-art data center, which is designed to address the growing demand for digital infrastructure in Japan.
Serene Nah, managing director and head of Asia Pacific for Digital Realty, added: “Japan’s rapidly increasing demand for AI deployments creates the need for scalable, flexible, and highly connected AI-ready data centers in the Tokyo metropolitan area. We believe NRT14’s next-generation data center infrastructure and Digital Realty’s connected global open data center platform provide the foundational pillars our customers need to drive innovation in the coming years.”
The facility will leverage advanced technologies to deliver high-performance, secure, and reliable services to customers, supporting their digital transformation journeys. Digital Realty’s investment underscores its commitment to expanding its presence in key markets and delivering innovative data center solutions worldwide.
Microsoft to Invest $3.3bn in Wisconsin AI Data Center
Microsoft has announced plans to invest $3.3 billion in constructing an AI data center in Wisconsin. The facility will be dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence research and development, bolstering Microsoft’s capabilities in the field. This substantial investment reflects Microsoft’s commitment to innovation and the advancement of AI technologies.
The project will create 2,300 construction jobs, Microsoft said. The company is also partnering with Wisconsin’s Gateway Technical College to build a data center academy which it said will “train and certify more than 1,000 students in five years to work in the new data center and IT sector jobs created in the area.”
The data center will not only serve as a hub for AI research but also contribute to economic growth in Wisconsin by creating jobs and stimulating local development. Additionally, the project underscores the growing importance of AI in various industries and the need for robust infrastructure to support its continued evolution.
Datavolt Breaks Ground on Data Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Datavolt, a prominent data center developer, has commenced construction on a new data center facility in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of a significant investment in Uzbekistan’s digital infrastructure, aimed at meeting the growing demand for data center services in the region.
The groundbreaking ceremony featured Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia in attendance.
“This is the first data center project for us in Uzbekistan, but it brings already strong aspects of innovation in sustainability using certified renewable energy from solar and wind fed into dedicated energy storage units and balanced by dedicated systems powered by hydrogen and other green fuels in order to secure round-the-clock green energy to our data center at the high level of reliability/availability required by the computing processes,” said Rajit Nanda, DataVolt CEO. “This approach will be able to secure a cost-effective base for deployment of Artificial Intelligence computing processes in Uzbekistan as an absolute first in the region accelerating the development of an advanced IT industry in the country.”
The state-of-the-art facility will offer secure, reliable, and scalable solutions to support the needs of businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. Datavolt’s entry into the Uzbek market underscores the country’s emergence as a strategic location for data center development, driven by increasing digitalization efforts and the need for modern IT infrastructure.