€50bn Croatia AI data centre investment announced

Pantheon Atlas, a transatlantic-led investment group, has announced plans to develop a hyperscale AI data centre and innovation campus in Topusko, Croatia, with total investment expected to exceed €50 billion (£43 billion). This is reportedly the largest investment of its kind in Croatian history and among the largest private US investments in Europe. The project, known as Pantheon AI, is intended to address growing demand for AI-driven data centre capacity across Europe, where availability of power, land, and construction resources remains constrained. The development is being delivered by a transatlantic investment group combining US capital with local expertise in Croatia, including regulatory and grid access experience. The announcement was made at the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik. Pantheon AI is designed to meet NVIDIA’s gigawatt-scale AI factory standards and is expected to offer high levels of availability, exceeding Tier IV benchmarks. Jako Andabak, Founding Partner at Pantheon AI, comments, "Pantheon AI is a signal to the world that Croatia is open for the highest-caliber investment. "This project is the culmination of years of work to bring world-class digital infrastructure to Croatia." Addressing European data centre capacity Across Europe, established data centre markets are operating with limited vacancy, while grid connection delays continue to affect new developments. Demand in Central and Eastern Europe is expected to increase significantly by 2035, particularly as AI workloads expand and regulatory requirements encourage data to be stored within EU borders. Ryan Rich, Managing Partner at Pantheon AI, explains, "We have assembled a transatlantic partnership to solve one of the most pressing challenges in global digital infrastructure: enabling hyperscale operators to meet AI-driven demand at scale." The project is expected to support up to 5.2 GW of renewable energy integration into Croatia’s grid. It will include an on-site solar installation and battery storage, alongside multiple fibre connections across European network corridors. Joshua Volz, Special Envoy for Global Energy Integration at the US Department of Energy, says, "Critical infrastructure of this scale, built by the private sector responding to real market demand, is exactly how US interests and European security advance together." Construction of the campus is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with operations expected to start in the first quarter of 2029. The initial phase represents a €12 billion (£10 billion) investment, with additional funding anticipated as tenants deploy infrastructure. The campus will have a planned capacity of 1GW, including 800MW of usable IT load, and will span approximately 310 acres (1.2 km²), with expansion potential. The development is expected to create around 1,500 permanent roles, alongside 3,000 jobs during construction.

Data centres 2026: Energy efficiency and sustainability

Prospero Events Group says it is proud to present the 3rd Energy Efficiency & Sustainability in Data Centers 2026 conference, taking place on 26–27 May 2026 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The event will bring together senior decision-makers, technology innovators, and sustainability leaders to explore how data centres can become more energy efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible. Event presentation topics and speaker panel As AI adoption, hyperscale growth, and electrification continue to increase power demand, the conference will focus on the strategies needed to balance performance with sustainability. Key discussion areas include: • Renewable energy integration• Cooling efficiency and uptime• Waste heat reuse and district heating• On-site energy generation and energy resilience• ESG integration across the data centre lifecycle• Grid constraints and power availability• AI-driven optimisation and future-ready infrastructure The conference will feature expert insights from leading organisations, including: • Günter Eggers, Director Public, NTT Global Data Centers• Vladimir Prodanovic, Principal Program Manager, NVIDIA• Pedro Filipe Barreiros, Data Center Operations, Google• Stijn Grove, Managing Director, Dutch Data Center Association• Martijn Van Wijngaarden, Global Energy Transaction Manager, Iron Mountain• Simon Muskett and Olalekan Salami, Digital Realty The event offers a valuable platform for collaboration amongst operators, investors, technology providers, and sustainability experts committed to building the next generation of low-impact, high-performance data centres. Explore the complete speaker lineup, session topics, and key discussion points shaping the future of sustainable data centres. To register and download the event agenda, click here.

Veolia, Amazon develop data centre water reuse system

Veolia, a French multinational environmental services company, is working with US technology and e-commerce company Amazon to introduce reclaimed water for cooling at a data centre in Mississippi, USA, as part of efforts to reduce water use and support long-term water resilience. The facility, expected to be operational in 2027, will be the first Amazon data centre in the state to use treated wastewater for cooling processes. The system will convert effluent from nearby treatment plants into water suitable for industrial use. Once fully operational, the project is expected to reuse more than 83 million gallons (313 million litres) of potable water each year, reducing demand on local groundwater and drinking water supplies. Veolia will deploy modular, containerised treatment systems designed for scalable use. The approach allows similar installations to be introduced at other data centres where conditions allow. Turning wastewater into cooling power for data centres The collaboration also includes the use of artificial intelligence to improve water treatment processes. Amazon Web Services (AWS) will support Veolia in developing systems for real-time optimisation, predictive maintenance, and operational analysis. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and reduce resource consumption across water treatment operations. Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive Officer at Veolia, comments, “We are delighted to collaborate with Amazon to secure its water needs in Mississippi while protecting the local community's resources. This is environmental security in action. "By combining Veolia’s water expertise with Amazon’s AI technologies, we’re transforming data centres into engines of innovation for sustainability. This solution builds on our newly launched offering for data centres.” Will Hewes, Global Water Stewardship Lead at Amazon, adds, “Through our collaborative work on AI applied to water treatment, Veolia will be able to further drive innovation and enhance the efficiency of on-site teams, thanks to automated analytics, actionable recommendations, optimised inventory management, and streamlined maintenance. "We’re pleased to join forces with Veolia to advance more sustainable water use strategies while helping it pioneer more efficient water treatment solutions for customers worldwide.” The project, Amazon says, forms part of its wider aim to become water positive across its direct data centre operations by 2030.

Vertiv acquires Strategic Thermal Labs

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, has acquired Strategic Thermal Labs (STL), a company specialising in liquid-cooling technologies for high-density computing environments. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Vertiv’s engineering capabilities in managing the interaction between server-level liquid cooling and supporting infrastructure, which is becoming increasingly important in AI and high-performance computing deployments. Strategic Thermal Labs brings experience in cold-plate design, server-side liquid cooling, and thermal validation for high-density systems. This is expected to support Vertiv’s ability to simulate real-world operating conditions and improve the integration of thermal and power systems. Acquisition targets high-density cooling challenges As computing workloads become more intensive, thermal management at chip level is playing a greater role in overall system performance and reliability. The addition of STL is aimed at improving design, integration, commissioning, and long-term operation of liquid-cooled environments. Scott Armul, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Vertiv, comments, “As AI and high-performance computing push power densities to unprecedented levels, understanding and solving heat challenges at the chip level becomes critical to system design, performance, and reliability. "STL brings deep expertise and proven capability in addressing some of the industry’s most demanding chip-level density and thermal problems, strengthening Vertiv’s ability to emulate and validate system-level solutions and enabling customers to improve performance and lifecycle outcomes in liquid-cooled environments.” Vertiv states that the acquisition will not change its approach to supporting interoperable infrastructure and the company will continue to work with a range of server and silicon platforms. It adds that the move forms part of its wider strategy to address increasing infrastructure complexity through integrated power, thermal, and lifecycle capabilities. For more from Vertiv, click here.

Fluke warns AI boom exposes 'confidence crisis'

As artificial intelligence (AI) demand accelerates, new research from Fluke Corporation, a US manufacturer of electronic test and measurement tool, suggests a growing confidence crisis among data centre professionals, raising concerns about the sector’s ability to scale reliably. A survey of more than 150 data centre professionals, conducted at Data Centre World London 2026, found that only 22% fully trust that their test and measurement data reflects real-world operating conditions. Confidence drops further under pressure, with just 19% expressing full trust in data accuracy during peak load or failure scenarios. Several factors are driving this lack of confidence in infrastructure data. Skills and training gaps were cited as the biggest barrier (43%), followed by time pressures during commissioning (16%), inconsistent testing processes (11%), and budget constraints (10%). The operational impact is seemingly already being felt. Half of respondents reported experiencing unplanned outages or major performance disruptions at least annually, with nearly one in five experiencing disruptions as frequently as monthly (10%) or weekly (8%). Outdated testing equipment is compounding the issue, with nearly two thirds (65%) saying legacy tools increase the risk of downtime and compliance failures within their organisation. Speed vs compliance trade-offs emerge The research exposes a widening gap between intent and execution. While almost all respondents agree that regular maintenance is critical to reducing downtime, only 28% have real-time or predictive monitoring in place across critical infrastructure such as power, cooling, and networks. One fifth admit maintenance is conducted quarterly at most. Adoption of advanced technologies also reportedly remains limited. Just 10% have fully implemented automation, AI diagnostics, or predictive monitoring, while many remain in pilot (22%) or early-stage (19%) phases. Pressure to deliver data centre capacity faster is also creating new risks. 42% of respondents said time pressures create occasional compliance risks, while 17% said they make it significantly harder to meet evolving connector and certification requirements. Mike Slevin, Director of EMEA Market at Fluke Corporation, comments, “What’s striking here is that organisations already know what needs to be done. There’s broad recognition that regular maintenance and better monitoring are critical to reducing downtime, yet, in practice, adoption is lagging. “That gap between awareness and action is where risk builds. When testing isn’t consistent and monitoring isn’t real-time, small issues can quickly escalate into outages.” UK readiness in question as AI ambitions grow The findings also cast doubt on the UK’s ability to support its ambitions to become a global AI leader. Only half of respondents believe the UK data centre sector is operationally ready to scale for AI, cloud, and hyperscale demand over the next five years. Additionally, just 7% believe the UK currently has the infrastructure resilience and operational standards required to support its “AI superpower” ambitions, with 28% pointing to significant infrastructure gaps. Mike continues, “AI is redefining the demands placed on data centre infrastructure. With higher-density architecture and increasingly complex fibre environments, multi-fibre testing has become paramount as the margin for error narrows. “If organisations can’t confidently validate performance under real-world conditions, they risk building AI on unstable foundations. The challenge now is ensuring that capacity is resilient and ready for sustained demand.” For more from Fluke, click here.

Report finds what's slowing down DC planning permission

A new report by Hoare Lea, a UK engineering consultancy, has found that data centre planning applications in the United Kingdom are being delayed by an average of 490 days, driven largely by objections related to inadequate community engagement, unclear community benefits, design, infrastructure constraints, and energy use. Hoare Lea’s Societal Insights team analysed 33 disputed applications to understand the underlying reasons for rejection and delay. Rejections frequently cited policy non-compliance, unsuitable locations, and insufficient energy strategies. These findings identify the tension between the growing demand for data centres in the UK - infrastructure that is supported by the Government’s AI Growth Zones - and the realities of navigating the planning system. Carl Walker, Head of Societal Insights at Hoare Lea, comments, “Success will be judged not only by new infrastructure, but also by the skills, growth, and opportunities delivered to local communities, [whose needs] must be recognised in the planning process.” Ambitions to build data centres in the UK already face significant challenges. Electricity grid capacity is already under strain, particularly in London and the M4 corridor, where data centres have delayed housing developments. Concerns also exist around environmental impacts, green belt land, and controversial government interventions overriding local planning decisions. The report findings underscore the need for integrated approaches that combine renewable energy planning, transparent governance, and meaningful community dividends. It suggests that by engaging communities early, supporting local skills and infrastructure, and embedding social and environmental value, data centres can become catalysts for sustainable local growth rather than sources of conflict. To view the full report, click here.

How 5G-A GigaUplink kept a robot half-marathon on track

Chinese telecommunications operator China Unicom and Chinese multinational technology company Huawei's landmark deployment at the 2026 Beijing E-Town event demonstrates what high-uplink network architecture can deliver when the stakes - and the robot runners - are at full sprint. When 21 humanoid robots lined up alongside human runners at the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon on 19 April, the spectacle represented far more than a novelty sporting occasion. Behind the scenes, a sophisticated 5G-A network was working hard to ensure that each machine could navigate, sense its environment, and communicate in real time - all while travelling at speeds of up to 10 metres per second. The event, held at Tongming Lake Park and Nanhaizi Park in Beijing's E-Town (Yizhuang) district, marked a genuine global first: human runners and humanoid robots competing simultaneously on the same course. It also served as a compelling proof of concept for how high-uplink 5G-A connectivity can solve some of the most demanding real-world engineering challenges in embodied AI. The engineering challenge Running a humanoid robot half-marathon is not simply a mechanical feat. Each robot must receive and transmit a continuous stream of HD video, environmental sensor data, and positioning information. Remote-control robots require stable, low-latency command links, while the autonomous navigation group demands even more: real-time decision-making support, precise positioning to sub-decimetre accuracy, and dynamic obstacle avoidance - all at pace, over a 21km course, in a densely populated public space. Add to that the media requirements - 4K and 8K live broadcasting, real-time data feeds, and tens of thousands of spectators uploading content simultaneously - and the uplink demands become extraordinary. Each robot alone requires approximately 10 Mbps of sustained uplink bandwidth, and the network must support more than 40 concurrent service scenarios without degradation. In short, this was not a use case that a conventional network architecture was built to handle. The network solution China Unicom Beijing, supported by Huawei's radio access technology, deployed a 5G-A premium network along the full length of the course. The solution centres on 5G-A three-component carrier (3CC) aggregation across 3.5GHz and 2.1GHz bands, using Huawei's Extended Large Aperture Array (ELAA) technology. This combination delivers a peak uplink speed of 677 Mbps and an average of 155 Mbps, with end-to-end latency averaging just 30 ms. Crucially, uplink speeds of 20 Mbps or above were maintained more than 99.6% of the time - a figure that underlines the reliability required for safety-critical autonomous systems operating at speed. Dedicated uplink network slices were reserved along the course to prioritise robot connectivity and guarantee positioning accuracy to sub-decimetre level. At the high-density start and finish areas, carrier priority technology ensured that robot and media traffic was not crowded out by spectator demand. The result was consistent, stable connectivity for both the autonomous navigation robots and the remote-control group throughout the full 21km route. Underpinning the physical network is an intelligent operations and maintenance (O&M) platform, which uses AI algorithms to monitor equipment remotely, predict faults at millisecond timescales, and optimise resource allocation dynamically. By combining dynamic and static management, the system enables continuous, unattended operation and real-time adaptation to shifting traffic patterns across the course. China Unicom has built this into a broader ICT-integrated smart operations architecture - one that gives the network, as the company puts it, a "smart brain". What it delivered The results speak clearly to what a well-engineered, high-uplink network can achieve. Robots in the autonomous navigation group executed precise perception and rapid decision-making throughout the course, supported by sub-decimetre positioning accuracy and guaranteed low-latency data paths. Live broadcast teams delivered 4K and 8K feeds without interruption, and spectators experienced consistently smooth connectivity despite the event's scale. Field testing recorded a peak uplink speed of 677 Mbps, while the 99.6% fulfilment rate at 20 Mbps confirmed that the headline performance figures translated into reliable real-world delivery. The network also supported innovative spectator applications, including AR and VR viewing modes that allowed fans to experience the marathon from the robots' own perspectives - all enabled by the same high-uplink infrastructure. In their own words Qin Yang, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom in Beijing, spoke proudly of the excellent connections his company provided for the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games, as a global strategic partner, and for the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon event, as the exclusive official communications sponsor. He said, "5G-A and AI are essential digital infrastructure, enabling us to bring embodied AI to sports. Given the new dynamics of AI development, we will double down on our priorities over connectivity, computing power, services, and security to sharpen our competitive edges as a preferred telecom partner for intelligent sports and a core enabler for intelligent industry transformation. "Moving forward, we will accelerate our innovation-driven push to strengthen our digital infrastructure and drive the high-quality growth of embodied AI in China and beyond." Samuel Chen, Vice President of Huawei's Wireless Network Business Marketing, added that this humanoid robot half-marathon offers a good example of deepening integration between mobile technology and embodied intelligence. He commented, "Beyond redefining connectivity for sports, it has shown us what intelligent production and life will look like in future. We are always dedicated to building excellent 5G-A networks together with operators based on user-centred innovation to ensure GigaUplink, low latency, and high reliability for differentiated mobile AI services. This will enable us to continuously drive the high-quality growth of the digital economy." The broader picture The Beijing event is significant not only as a spectacle, but as an indicator of where network engineering is heading. The shift from downlink-dominant 5G towards symmetrical, high-uplink architectures reflects a fundamental change in how AI-driven applications interact with mobile infrastructure. Embodied AI, industrial data backhaul, and immersive real-time services all place enormous demands on uplink capacity - demands that traditional LTE and early 5G networks were not designed to meet. The 5G-A GigaUplink standard, with its target of ubiquitous 20Mbps uplink availability, positions the technology as a credible foundation for the next generation of intelligent applications. China Unicom's deployment at the E-Town marathon demonstrates that this is not merely theoretical; with the right network architecture, AI-powered autonomous systems can operate reliably at scale in complex, real-world environments. For network engineers and infrastructure professionals, the lesson from Beijing is clear: As embodied AI moves from the laboratory to the streets, connectivity infrastructure must evolve to match - and the 5G-A deployment at the E-Town marathon offers a practical, field-tested blueprint for how that evolution can be achieved. For more from Huawei, click here.

Pure DC expands its Middle East data centres

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has confirmed further investment in the Middle East, including a capacity increase at its Abu Dhabi campus and new development plans in Saudi Arabia. The company has received final approval from TAQA to expand IT capacity at its AUH01 site in Abu Dhabi from 41MW to 48MW. The increase has been achieved through design optimisation and the addition of new power infrastructure, supporting additional demand including AI workloads. The AUH01 campus is located on a 16-acre (64,749m²) site and is designed for phased expansion. One 20MW building is already operational, with initial data hall capacity delivered to a hyperscale customer in 2025. The site uses a combination of air and liquid cooling to support different deployment requirements. Pure DC has also matched 100% of the electricity used at AUH01 in 2025 with International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs), sourced from solar generation at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the UAE. This approach aims to support reduced carbon intensity for operations and contribute to market-based Scope 2 emissions targets. Regional growth plans Alongside its UAE operations, Pure DC has entered a joint venture with Dune Vaults to develop a hyperscale data centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The RUH01 campus will be built on a 270,000m² site, with an initial design capacity of 57.6MW across two buildings. The development has potential to scale beyond 100MW as demand increases. Gary Wojtaszek, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO at Pure DC, comments, “We remain deeply committed to the Middle East and grateful for support we continue to receive from authorities across the UAE and KSA in the current climate. "Our sites are delivering uninterrupted service, reflecting the resilience and reliability that underpins our presence in the region. While the current macro-political environment may have slowed sector investment, digital demand remains unchanged. "The region’s ambitious national visions recognise the transformation enabled by digital government, enterprise modernisation, and a future-ready workforce. Pure DC is fully committed to contributing to that future through the continued development and operation of world-class digital infrastructure across the Middle East.” For more from Pure DC, click here.

Wärtsilä secures 790MW Texas data centre deal

Wärtsilä, a Finnish technology company that manufactures and services power systems, has secured an order to supply a 790MW off-grid power system for a data centre under construction in Texas, USA. The project will use 42 Wärtsilä 50SG gas engines operating on natural gas to provide primary power for the facility. The order was recorded in the company’s Q2 2026 intake and represents its first data centre-related project in Texas. The deployment reflects growing demand for power in regions where grid capacity is constrained, particularly as large-scale AI and cloud infrastructure continues to expand. Wärtsilä’s engine-based system is designed to deliver continuous power without reliance on the grid, supporting early-stage operations while grid connections are developed or where capacity is limited. Engine-based power for off-grid deployment The selected engines are capable of operating at full output in high temperatures, which is a key consideration for projects in Texas. The system is also designed to support efficiency and emissions requirements, with a heat rate of approximately 6,800 Btu/kWh. The modular configuration allows capacity to be scaled as demand increases, while also enabling integration with renewable energy sources where available. Anders Lindberg, President of Wärtsilä Energy and Executive Vice President of Wärtsilä, comments, “Wärtsilä’s primary power solutions offer significant benefits to data centre developers by providing continuous, reliable primary power while using significantly less water and fuel than traditional alternatives. "Also, our power solutions ramp up quickly and offer a dependable and sustainable foundation for delivering power availability, which is vital for AI and cloud operators. "Our modular engine power plants allow easy capacity scale-ups, making them an ideal choice for the fast-growing data centre market.” Texas continues to attract data centre development due to its access to natural gas resources, established energy infrastructure, and growing renewable generation capacity. Engine-based systems can also be used to support grid balancing once a facility is connected. Equipment delivery for the project is scheduled for 2028, with full operations expected by late 2029. Wärtsilä has now supplied more than 2.4GW of power capacity to data centre projects across the United States.

Kao Data backs Discover Tech careers programme

Kao Data, a developer and operator of data centres, has joined the Cisco-led Discover Tech programme, aimed at widening access to technology careers for young people across the UK. As an employer member, the data centre operator joins organisations including Adobe, Accenture UK&I, IBM, and World Wide Technology, alongside CDW, FDM, BBC, Highpoint, and Softcat. The initiative focuses on supporting underrepresented groups to explore opportunities in the technology sector. A pilot programme launched in February 2026 engaged 100 students, with most participants reporting increased interest in technology careers and participating employers. The scheme will expand in July, offering a two-day programme for around 600 young people in London and Manchester. The first day provides an introduction to the sector, while the second involves on-site visits with employer partners, covering areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. Kao Data will host around 40 students at its Harlow campus on 15 July, providing an overview of data centre infrastructure and its role in supporting digital services. The site is located at Kao Park, associated with early fibre optic research led by Sir Charles Kao. Industry initiative targets skills gap The programme forms part of wider efforts to address skills shortages in the technology sector, particularly within digital infrastructure and data centres. Kalay Moodley, Chief People Officer at Kao Data, comments, “Discover Tech is exactly the kind of initiative the sector needs. The data centre industry is facing a significant skills shortage, and if we are serious about closing that gap we have to reach into communities that have historically been overlooked and show young people what a career in our industry can look like. “Hosting these students at Kao Park is a real privilege. This is the birthplace of fibre optic networks, the technology that carries the modern internet, and we want every young person who walks onto our campus to leave understanding that the digital world they use every day is built by people, and that those people could be them.” Rachel Morar, Managing Director at Connectr Early Engagement, says, “We're delighted to welcome Kao Data to the Discover Tech family. "This group of employers has come together with the ambition of positively impacting 7,000 young people over the next three years, myth-busting about the sector and getting students excited about where they fit into the ecosystem. “Kao Data shares our passion for making sure young people are informed about the tech sector at this pivotal decision-making age in their school and college careers. “Data centres will play a vital role in the UK's economic growth, and Kao Data joining the programme will bring invaluable insights for our Y12s to learn from in July.” The initiative also supports Kao Data’s wider education and skills activities, including its Kao Academy programme for primary schools and its Critical Careers campaign focused on data centre roles. For more from Kao Data, click here.