Data Center Investment News — 04/10/2024
Powerhouse Breaks Ground on Reno Data Center
Powerhouse Data Centers has begun construction on a new data center in Reno, Nevada. The facility will offer substantial capacity, supporting the region’s growing demand for data services and cloud computing.
Announced at the turn of the year, the 49-acre campus will comprise three two-story powered shell buildings totaling 900,000 square feet (83,610 sqm).
The first building is expected to be built by Q3 2025. The campus is scheduled to finish construction in 2028.
Powerhouse aims to provide scalable and sustainable infrastructure, using renewable energy to power the facility. This development marks the company’s commitment to expanding its footprint across the U.S. and serving hyperscale cloud providers and enterprises.
Kao Data Breaks Ground at $464m Data Center in Manchester, UK
Kao Data has started building a $464 million data center in Manchester, UK. This facility will be one of the largest in the north of England, supporting AI, high-performance computing, and enterprise-level applications.
The operator said its facility will “cement Manchester’s growing reputation as a major hub for UK digital infrastructure and technology innovation.”
The build comes shortly after the UK declared data centers critical national infrastructure.
At the groundbreaking event today, Spencer Lamb, chief commercial officer at Kao Data, told DCD that Manchester was an attractive option for providing diverse routes and resiliency in the UK, “balancing out” the concentration of data centers in the south of the country.
The Manchester site will operate using 100% renewable energy, reflecting Kao Data’s focus on sustainability. The project aims to cater to the UK’s growing demand for advanced computing solutions, especially in the AI and cloud sectors.
T5 Breaks Ground on Chicago Data Center, Illinois
T5 Data Centers has begun construction on a new facility in Chicago, Illinois, expanding its presence in the Midwest. The Chicago data center will cater to hyperscale cloud service providers and large enterprises.
The company previously said the 36MW facility would be build-to-suit, with the company spending more than $500 million to develop a three-story, 250,000 sq ft facility (23,225 sqm). On its website, Chicago III is now listed as pre-leased.
The company currently operates one Chicago campus, at 200 Innovation Drive in the Elk Grove area. Northlake is around 10 miles away from the company’s existing facility, on the south side of O’Hare airport.
Known for its reliability and custom-built solutions, T5 plans to enhance its infrastructure offerings with this new development. The facility is designed to meet growing demand for data processing and storage in the region.
APAC Data Centre Market Set for Explosive Growth by 2029, Outpacing European Counterparts
The Asia-Pacific (APAC) data center market is poised for significant growth by 2029, surpassing Europe in scale and development. This expansion is driven by increasing demand for cloud services, digital transformation, and AI in the region.
According to Jabez Tan, Head of Research at Structure Research, “Tokyo is the Northern Virginia of the region.” The bold statement underscores the Japanese capital’s anticipated dominance in the APAC data centre market. By 2029, Tokyo is expected to boast 2,556MW of capacity, up from 1,347MW in 2024, solidifying its position as the largest data centre market in the region. Elsewhere, and perhaps the most unexpected revelation is the projected growth of Johor, Malaysia.
Countries like China, India, and Japan are leading the charge, with major investments from global tech companies. The APAC region is expected to become the world’s largest data center hub within the next decade.
ECL Unveils 1GW AI-Focused Data Centre Hub in Texas
ECL has announced the development of a 1GW AI-focused data center hub in Texas, aimed at supporting the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads.
The data centre will feature modular infrastructure that can expand to 2GW. This development follows ECL’s introduction of the world’s first off-grid, hydrogen-powered modular data centre, the ECL-MV1, which operates 24/7 with zero emissions and replenishes water to the local community.
“The data centre technology committed to by ECL is truly transformative in the industry,” said Ken Patchett, VP data centre infrastructure at Lambda.
“We believe ECL’s technology could unlock a powerful and eco-conscious foundation for AI advancement. This new infrastructure could give researchers and developers essential computational resources while drastically reducing the environmental impact of AI operations.”
This massive facility will provide cutting-edge infrastructure designed specifically for AI applications, using advanced cooling technologies and sustainable power sources. The Texas site represents a major milestone for ECL as it expands its presence in the high-performance computing market.
Google Breaks Ground on Its First Data Center in Malaysia
Google has started construction on its first data center in Malaysia. This new facility is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to expand its cloud infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
Beyond economic benefits, Google is also committed to supporting local communities and the environment. The company will collaborate with the Global Environment Centre (GEC) and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to enhance Taman Aman Lake, as part of its local water stewardship efforts.
Additionally, Google will partner with UNICEF Malaysia, CelcomDigi, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, and Arus Academy to bring Future Skills for All to Selangor, with the support of the Ministry of Education. This initiative aims to reduce inequalities and provide opportunities for future-skills learning to all, particularly children from diverse demographics.
The Malaysian data center will support local and regional digital services, offering improved performance for businesses and consumers alike. Google aims to help drive digital transformation across Southeast Asia with this new facility.
Aruba Hyperscale Data Centre Launches
Aruba has launched a hyperscale data center, designed to meet the increasing demand for cloud and digital services. This facility is equipped to support large-scale computing applications and data storage solutions, providing state-of-the-art infrastructure for global clients.
“The activation of the Hyper Cloud Data Centre in Rome allows us to significantly increase the space and power capacity available to our customers in response to the rapid growth in consumption expected from the development of cloud and technologies such as artificial intelligence,” said Stefano Cecconi, CEO of Aruba.
The new center is expected to play a key role in supporting digital innovation and enhancing connectivity across Europe and beyond.
IBM Quantum Data Centre Launched
IBM has launched its first quantum data center, marking a major advancement in quantum computing capabilities. This center will provide clients with access to cutting-edge quantum systems, enabling new levels of computing power for complex problems in industries like finance, healthcare, and logistics.
The site was formally launched at an event attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and leaders from Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, T-Systems, SAP, and Fraunhofer.
“Our collaboration with IBM for the ‘scaling’ phase of quantum computing is progressing according to plan,” said Frantz Rublé, president of Euro-information and deputy chief executive officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.
The launch represents IBM’s commitment to leading the development of quantum technologies and pushing the boundaries of computational science.
Google breaks ground on $2bn South Carolina data centres
Google is expanding its data center operations in South Carolina, strengthening its cloud infrastructure in the southeastern U.S. This expansion will provide greater capacity for Google’s cloud services, supporting regional customers with enhanced performance and reliability.
Audrey Van Bellegham, director of product strategy and operations, global data centres at Google wrote on LinkedIn: “I’m honored to have represented Google and announce the $3.3 billion investment in South Carolina data center campuses yesterday.
“Thank you to Governor McMaster South Carolina Governor’s Office, Dorchester County Council Chairman S. Todd Friddle, the members of the state legislators, and regional and municipal leaders.”
The project underscores Google’s commitment to sustainable data center growth, with plans to use renewable energy to power the facility.
Goodman Hands Over Hong Kong Data Centre to Chinese Operator GDS
Goodman has handed over its Hong Kong data center to Chinese operator GDS, marking the latest development in the region’s fast-growing digital infrastructure market.
Paul McGarry, Head of Asia at Goodman, said: “This latest data centre completion at the Goodman Tsuen Wan West campus further demonstrates our ability to provide the essential infrastructure needed to support Hong Kong’s digital economy.”
The site, formerly a textiles factory, was acquired by Goodman in 2014. After planning and design, construction of the first building commenced in 2019.
The facility is equipped to handle large-scale data processing and cloud services, catering to local and international clients. This handover aligns with GDS’s strategy to expand its presence in the Asian data center market and enhance its service offerings.