Techno Digital unveils hyperscale data centre in Chennai

Techno Digital, the digital infrastructure arm of Techno Electric & Engineering Company Limited (TEECL), today announced the inauguration of its 36MW data centre at SIPCOT IT Park, Siruseri, Chennai. This next-gen facility is part of Techno Digital’s $1 billion investment commitment towards building future-ready, sustainable digital infrastructure across the country. Spanning over 200,000 square foot, the state-of-the-art 36MW data centre delivers a hosting capacity of about 2,400 high-density racks and is designed to support flexible power densities from 10 kW to 50 kW per rack and beyond, making it one of India’s most advanced AI-ready infrastructures. Strategically located in the heart of Chennai’s IT corridor, the facility is designed to provide resilience against climate risks and offers seamless connectivity to multiple cable landing stations and domestic networks that anchor India’s internet backbone. The facility’s design integrates: On-site 110 kV GIS Substation with dual power feeds from independent substations, connected via underground cable paths for reliability and weatherproof operation. Powering customers’ critical IT load within server hall via state-of-the-art UPS systems, tested and certified with NVIDIA’s latest GB200 series. Efficient Cooling Architecture featuring centrifugal water-cooled chillers and adiabatic cooling towers, thus enabling best-in-class operational PUE and helping reduce water consumption by 75%. Ankit Saraiya, Director & CEO, Techno Digital, says, “Our Chennai AI-ready hyperscale data centre is a significant milestone in our commitment to accelerating the Digital India vision and advancing India’s self-reliance initiative. This launch goes beyond infrastructure; it represents a strategic investment in building a future-ready digital ecosystem. “Chennai stands out as a top destination for hyperscale data centres, due to its robust infrastructure, progressive business policies, and vibrant talent pool. This, coupled with our strong credentials in power infrastructure, strategically positions us as a partner of choice for enterprises looking to modernise, scale, embrace sustainability and future-proof their digital operations.” India’s burgeoning digital economy demands a comprehensive focus on building a robust digital infrastructure. With the rise in data consumption, rapid cloud adoption, and advancements in AI and 5G rollout, data centres are the strategic pillars that deliver scalable, secure, and efficient solutions to meet this demand. Additionally, as sustainability is becoming a key factor in India’s growth trajectory, optimising energy-efficient resources for modern hyperscale and edge data centres is of utmost importance. “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our AI-ready hyperscale data centre in Chennai, a facility that exemplifies progressive technology, precision engineering, and purposeful innovation, built at the intersection of tradition and technology,” comments Amit Agrawal, President, Techno Digital. “Today’s digital-native enterprises demand hyper-availability, seamless scalability, robust security, and operational resilience, all while advancing their sustainability goals. We are confident that the strategically located facility on India’s southern coast in Chennai, further augmented by our network of interconnected Edge data centres, is well poised to shape the country’s digital infrastructure with sustainable, AI-driven, and cloud-optimised offerings.” Padam Prakash Gupta, Managing Director, TEECL, adds, “With this strategic expansion, Techno Electric reaffirms its commitment to building a high-quality, benchmark digital infrastructure platform. The Chennai Data Centre facility is a testament to the group’s EPC leadership and financial discipline, ensuring superior returns and long-term value creation for all stakeholders.” The facility sets a new benchmark for sustainable digital infrastructure by deliberately allocating 25% of the total site area to green spaces - a first in the region. It incorporates adiabatic cooling towers and an energy-efficient exterior that reduce water consumption and minimise heat gain. Additionally, facility is equipped with advanced water treatment, recycling, and storage systems to ensure responsible usage and reuse of water. The design aligns with a Rated 3+ reliability standard and is confirmed for USGBC Gold certification for its environmental performance. For more from Techno Digital, click here.

Data centre boom demands predictive maintenance shift

As the data centre sector undergoes rapid expansion, operators are being urged to adopt condition-based monitoring and predictive maintenance strategies in facilities. The callout comes from Arfon Engineering, after a BBC report suggested that the number of data centres in the UK is set to increase by almost 20%. With the majority due to be built in the next five years, 66% of operators are also planning to retrofit at least a quarter of their existing estate within the same timeframe. Designated as critical national infrastructure, data centres are central to the UK’s economic future. To ensure 99.999% uptime and optimal energy efficiency, Arfon has encouraged the shift from reactive to predictive maintenance by adopting condition-based monitoring (CBM). Using real-time data from sensors and monitoring systems to assess equipment health, CBM forecasts potential failures well in advance. This enables informed and proactive maintenance decisions before the point of costly downtime, eliminating unnecessary interventions and extending asset life in the process. Alice Oakes, Service and Support Manager at Arfon, says, “As data centres become more complex and energy-intensive, the transition to predictive maintenance has never been more important. Outages can cost thousands per minute, and the consequences often stretch from financial to reputational damage. “Predictive maintenance is more cost-effective and environmentally responsible than traditional reactive or preventative approaches. This presents decision-makers with the chance to produce less waste from prematurely replaced components, benefit from greater energy efficiency of assets, and significantly extend the lifespan of mission-critical assets, such as cooling systems and power supplies.” Reducing the frequency of unnecessary part replacements contributes to lower carbon emissions and reduced energy consumption, both of which are key goals for a sector under scrutiny for its environmental impact. With tens of billions set to be invested in UK data centres over the coming years, CBM also plays an important role in preventing significant financial losses caused by unplanned outages. Earlier this year, more than half (54%) of respondents to Uptime Intelligence’s annual survey reported their most recent significant outage to have cost more than $100,000. Alice continues, “By integrating predictive maintenance strategies into both new build and retrofit facilities, operators can create smarter data centres that adapt to real-time conditions. We encourage businesses to view it as a strategic investment from the outset in maintaining uptime and resilience.”

Community IX launches new internet exchange in Virginia

Community IX, the operator of the FL-IX (South Florida) and CIX-ATL (Atlanta) internet exchanges (IXs), has launched a new exchange in Northern Virginia called CIX-NoVA. The service is initially available through data centres in Ashburn and Reston, with additional sites under review. According to the organisation, the launch responds to customer demand for greater interconnection capacity in Northern Virginia, which is it regards as the world’s largest data centre and connectivity hub. Community IX says it has already secured participants to anchor the new platform and, across its existing exchanges, the organisation already operates more than 30Tbps of installed port capacity. Expanding interconnection services Randy Epstein, co-founder and Executive Director of Community IX, says, “Since beginning operations in 2015, we’ve focused on providing a cost-effective, community-driven service to our membership and have experienced tremendous growth in Florida and later in the Atlanta Metro market. "Over the years, we’ve been asked what other markets we can offer our service [to] and Northern Virginia has consistently come up in conversation.” CIX-NoVA allows ISPs, content providers, and enterprises to exchange IP traffic across multiple sites in the region. The exchange is open to networks operating in Ashburn and Reston. Community IX is offering new 10G and 100G port connections free for the first year (with a two-year agreement). 400G ports are also available, but the company says they are not included in this promotion.

AI is reshaping the grid — is your data centre ready?

As Hitachi Energy explains, AI is driving explosive demand—and volatility—in data centre power needs. Today’s 'AI factories' require flexibility, speed, and sustainability. Traditional baseload planning won’t cut it. Digitalisation enables real-time load shifting, renewable alignment, and grid responsiveness. Energy availability is now the top constraint, making early collaboration with utilities and infrastructure partners essential. Capabilities like storage, on-site generation, and load shaping—once optional—are now critical. And no single player can solve this alone. Deep cross-sector collaboration is the key to building resilient, scalable systems. We’ve seen it work: when energy and IT teams align early, results are faster, cleaner, and more adaptable. AI is changing the grid and data centres must evolve. Flexibility isn’t an option for data centres: it’s the foundation. Read the full article to discover how to power data centres smarter, faster, and more sustainably. For more from Hitachi, click here.

Digital Realty breaks ground in Rome

Digital Realty, a provider of carrier-neutral data centre, colocation, and interconnection systems, today announced it has broken ground on its first data centre in Rome, aiming to strengthen its position in delivering PlatformDIGITAL, a connected data centre platform, across the Mediterranean region. The new facility, ROM1, is intended to be a highly connected, carrier-neutral data centre, designed to support the latest AI technologies and provide access to a broad ecosystem of global and regional connectivity providers. ROM1 will also be equipped with the capacity to support and interconnect with multiple subsea cable systems, promising to position the site as a strategic hub and gateway linking Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Strategically located within 15 kilometres of the coast, ROM1 will offer over 3MW of installed IT capacity upon completion, with future expansion under consideration across the 22-hectare site – equivalent to approximately 2.3 million ft² or around 213,677 m² – making it one of the largest data centre campuses in the country when fully built out. "Rome is not only a key economic hub in Southern Europe, but also a critical entry point to the broader Mediterranean – a region that is fast emerging as a vital gateway for global connectivity," sats Alessandro Talotta, Managing Director, Digital Realty in Italy. "ROM1 represents a major milestone in our strategy to build out a dense network of highly connected, sustainable data centre hubs across key growth markets, enabling our customers to scale their digital infrastructure and reach across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.” ROM1 will complement Digital Realty’s existing presence in other Mediterranean locations including Athens, Marseille, Zagreb, and the recently launched HER1 facility in Crete. It also precedes the forthcoming planned development of a new interconnection hub in Barcelona as part of the company’s expansion across Europe’s southern edge. According to Digital Realty, ROM1 is expected to contribute to faster, more resilient connectivity across Southern Europe and could significantly reduce latency between northern and southern Italy, bolstering the country’s competitiveness on the global stage. In line with the company's global sustainability strategy, ROM1 will be matched with 100% renewable energy, supporting the data centre provider's goal to minimise environmental impact while meeting growing demand for digital infrastructure. The ROM1 data centre is currently on schedule to be completed in 2027 and marks the first phase of a larger campus. For more from Digital Realty, click here.

AirTrunk secures A$16bn sustainability-linked financing

Hyperscale data centre operator AirTrunk has completed a A$16 billion (£7.6 billion) refinancing package (excluding Japan), which it says is the largest sustainability-linked financing in the Asia-Pacific and Japan region to date. The multi-transaction deal covers both new and operational assets in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. AirTrunk first introduced a sustainability-linked loan (SLL) in 2021 worth A$2.1 billion (£1 billion), which increased to A$4.6 billion (£2.2 billion) in 2023. The new refinancing brings the company’s total debt financing platform to more than A$18 billion (£8.6 billion), including its facilities in Japan. Over 60 banks and financiers participated in the latest package. Structure and sustainability targets The refinancing comprises four separate sustainability-linked transactions structured as either green loans or SLLs. AirTrunk has set targets across energy and water efficiency, renewable energy uptake, and gender pay equity. The company has stated its goal is to reach net-zero emissions by 2030. All margin incentives from the financing will be directed into AirTrunk’s social impact fund, which will grow over the course of the loans. The fund supports initiatives including disaster relief, STEM education, equal digital access, biodiversity projects, and sustainable innovation. AirTrunk says it is the first known corporate to embed disaster relief into its financing structure. In Singapore, a S$2.25 billion (£1.29 billion) green loan will fund the development of AirTrunk SGP2 in Loyang and is described as Singapore’s largest green loan for a data centre. In Melbourne, the company has arranged what it calls the largest green loan in the region and the first globally to include margin adjustments linked to a social impact programme. Robin Khuda, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AirTrunk, comments, “Following AirTrunk’s A$24 billion-plus (£11.5 billion) acquisition by Blackstone and CPPIB in 2024, we have expanded our debt financing platform to enable rapid growth across the region. "By linking all A$18 billion (£8.6 billion) of our financing to sustainability, we demonstrate our long-term commitment to scale responsibly, building essential digital infrastructure to power the digital economy, while delivering lasting positive environmental and social impact.” Luke Stephens, Vice President and Treasurer at AirTrunk, adds, “This A$16 billion-plus (£7.6 billion) refinancing is a major milestone in AirTrunk’s sustainable finance journey, driving both innovation and transparency. "From leading the industry with the first SLL in 2021 to today’s multi-transaction structure, we’ve consistently pushed boundaries to drive responsible growth and create meaningful social value.” For more from AirTrunk, click here.

'Decentralised energy key against DC construction bottlenecks'

Following warnings the UK risks missing out on significant investment in artificial intelligence (AI) facilities due to grid connection concerns, British temporary power and temperature control company Aggreko is encouraging operators to explore other options to best address ongoing bottlenecks. Digital Realty, a data centre developer, has called for overhauls of Britain’s energy grid and planning system to ensure reliable power supplies for new facilities. With AI-related tasks requiring higher workloads from data centres, owners and operators are under increasing pressure to maintain site efficiency, resilience, and uptime. With the number of data centres in the UK set to increase by almost a fifth, grid connection delays continuing as a concern, and the National Grid under increasing strain to facilitate ever-growing power demand, Aggreko is highlighting how decentralised energy provision could help project managers navigate these pressures. The company’s recent whitepaper, Bridging the Energy Gap for European Data Centres, explores how on-site power generation can play a key role in ensuring data centre construction and commissioning remains on track. “Our conversations with data centre owners and operators show Digital Realty’s concerns are echoed throughout the sector,” says Billy Durie, Global Sector Head for Data Centres at Aggreko. “As with a great many other places, AI is set to have a transformative impact on the data centre industry. But if it is to do so, reliable power sources are key. The lengthening queues for grid connections provide proof that these sources cannot be guaranteed via the grid. "While in the long run planning reforms will make it easier to deliver the necessary infrastructure needed to power facilities handling AI-heavy workloads, bridging power is required in the short- to medium-term. It is essential to ensuring UK data centre construction can continue to meet skyrocketing demand and not miss out on the huge levels of investment that come with AI technologies.” The challenge of procuring suitable equipment in tier one and tier two markets has proved a historical impediment for data centre owners and operators looking to invest in permanent decentralised energy solutions. But with projects running the risk of stalling amid the AI boom, Billy is encouraging relevant stakeholders to consult the supply chain and explore procurement strategies based around temporary equipment hire in the short-, medium-, and long-term. Aggreko, for example, has recently integrated Stage V HVO-fuelled generators and customisable SCADA controls at a critical UK facility, aiming to provide a robust standby power solution to ensure site resilience and reduce emissions, independent of grid connection status. “Data centre construction and commissioning must continue as unhindered as possible if facilities are to be brought online within strict project timescales,” Billy continues. “However, grid connection delays and a scarcity of decentralised energy solutions available for outright purchase means deadlines may be missed. “Yet power is power, whether it comes from the grid or a hired generator. It is therefore vital project stakeholders and facility operators investigate different strategies for procuring necessary energy supplies. "Leveraging third-party expertise within the supply chains can help these organisations access the expertise and capacity to swiftly deploy energy-efficient and scalable technologies on a hire basis so they can meet specific site needs.” For more from Aggreko, click here.

GoodWe introduces liquid-cooled energy storage system

GoodWe, an inverter manufacturer and smart energy system provider, has launched the ESA Series, an all-in-one, liquid-cooled energy storage system designed for commercial and industrial (C&I) applications. The unit provides 125kW nominal output power and 261kWh storage capacity, as well as integrating the power conversion system, battery cells, energy management system, and battery management system into a single cabinet. The system can be scaled by connecting up to 15 units in parallel, supporting a maximum total capacity of 3.91MWh in grid-connected scenarios. GoodWe says the design allows for simplified installation, operation, and maintenance whilst offering flexible expansion. Performance and safety features The ESA cabinet has a footprint of 1.47m² and an energy density of 177.6kWh per square metre, aimed at sites with limited space. It incorporates 314Ah lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells and liquid cooling technology to regulate temperatures across the system. The storage supports 6,000 cycles and operates in temperatures from -25°C to 55°C. The ESA 125kW/261kWh was tested under UL 9540A methodology and includes multiple safety measures, such as smoke detection, thermal sensors, combustible gas monitoring, and humidity control with automatic dehumidification. Fire protection uses both active and passive approaches, including integrated aerosol suppression modules. TÜV Rheinland has certified the system for environmental adaptability across climatic, mechanical, chemical, electromagnetic, and specialised scenarios. Deployment examples GoodWe reports that early projects in China have demonstrated reductions in energy costs and improved operational efficiency. At its Guangde manufacturing site, nine ESA cabinets were installed in parallel to provide large-scale storage. Another installation in De’an combined seven cabinets with wind and solar power to support an energy storage project for heavy-duty truck charging. The system supports operating modes including peak shaving, demand management, energy trading participation, and off-grid backup power. In on-grid deployments, ESA units can be combined with GoodWe GT Series inverters and managed by the SEC3000C Smart Energy Controller to support up to 40 string inverters.

DC automation market to surpass $50.2bn by 2034

As reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, a market research and consulting company, the data centre automation market is set to grow from its current market value of more than $11.4 billion (£8.47 billion) to over $50.2 billion (£37.3 billion) by 2034. This remarkable growth is driven by the rising adoption of cloud services, social media platforms, video streaming, and the proliferation of IoT devices across industries. What's happening in the market? As organisations shift towards cloud-based infrastructure and digital storage, the need for efficient and automated data centre operations has become paramount. Automation not only improves operational efficiency but also reduces human errors, ensuring seamless management of vast amounts of data. With increasing data complexity and volume, businesses are turning to advanced technologies like machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing to enhance scalability and performance. These technologies optimise system processes, minimise downtime, and support predictive maintenance, allowing companies to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Moreover, the growing emphasis on cybersecurity and data protection is pushing organisations to implement automation in data centres, ensuring real-time threat detection and secure data handling. As more industries adopt hybrid and multi-cloud environments, the demand for data centre automation solutions is expected to surge, paving the way for innovative advancements in automation technologies. Government initiatives promoting the adoption of digital infrastructure and cloud technologies further strengthen the market, making data centre automation a critical component of modern business strategies. The data centre automation market is primarily segmented into solutions and services. The solution segment dominated the market with a 60% share, generating $7 billion (£5.2 billion) in 2024. Automation software helps organisations optimise resource allocation, automate routine tasks, and increase the uptime of data centres, ensuring seamless operations. As businesses strive to enhance operational efficiency, the demand for advanced solutions that enable real-time data management and workload automation continues to rise. Meanwhile, the service segment is growing rapidly as organisations seek expert guidance and ongoing support in implementing and maintaining automated systems. As technological advancements accelerate, companies rely on expert insights and strategic consulting to maximise the value of their automation investments and ensure long-term success. In terms of deployment mode, the data centre automation market is divided into on-premises and cloud-based solutions. The cloud segment held a 57% share in 2024, driven by the growing preference for remote accessibility, security features, and flexibility. Cloud solutions enable seamless access to data from any location through an internet connection, making them ideal for remote teams and individuals working across multiple devices. With data security becoming a top priority, cloud providers are enhancing their security measures by offering encryption, multi-factor authentication, and real-time threat monitoring to protect sensitive information. The North American data centre automation market accounted for 35% of the total market share, generating $3 billion (£2.2 billion) in 2024. The rapid adoption of AI, ML, and other advanced technologies across data centres in North America is driving significant growth in the region. Businesses are increasingly turning to AI-driven automation to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen security, and enable predictive maintenance, contributing to the surging demand for data centre automation solutions.

Ocean Networks selects Prysmian and IT for Hawaiian fibre link

Ocean Networks, a telecom development and service company, has today announced cable manufacturer Prysmian and submarine cable engineering and installation specialist International Telecom (IT) as partners for the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) submarine cable system. The agreement represents a key step in the development of Hawaii’s open-access, carrier-neutral inter-island fibre infrastructure, which is intended to improve high-speed broadband connectivity across the state. The HIFL project forms part of the US State of Hawaii’s 'Connect Kākou' broadband initiative. Prysmian will supply around 740km of submarine cable, while IT will provide engineering and installation services. Progress on Hawaii’s broadband initiative David Blau, Chief Operating Officer of Ocean Networks, says, “We are thrilled to be working with industry leaders like Prysmian and International Telecom, whose expertise is crucial to achieving our goal of enhancing high-speed broadband access across Hawaii. "Securing these contracts represents a major step forward in the construction timeline for the HIFL project, bringing us closer to fulfilling the promise of improved connectivity for all of Hawaii’s residents, businesses, education, and government entities.” Davide Taddei, Submarine Telecom Business Director at Prysmian, adds, “Prysmian is proud to have been selected by Ocean Networks and [to] contribute to such a vital infrastructure project that will bring affordable, high-speed internet and connectivity to all residents. "In today’s interconnected world, ensuring secure and resilient digital infrastructure is critical. Our systems are designed not only for performance and durability but also to support enhanced digital security and data integrity for the communities they serve. "The HIFL project is a key step in delivering robust infrastructure in the Pacific and builds on Prysmian’s strong track record in challenging submarine environments worldwide.” Steve Arsenault, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at IT, comments, “IT takes great pride in our long history of successful project delivery within the Hawaiian Islands. "Bringing this experience to bear on behalf of Ocean Networks for the HIFL project is an honour. We are pleased to contribute once again to the important work of strengthening Hawaii’s inter-island telecommunications infrastructure.” Ocean Networks is overseeing the supply, construction, operations, and maintenance of the HIFL system, with the aim of supporting a more advanced and equitable digital landscape for Hawaii. For more from Prysmian, click here.