aquatherm blue powers cooling at Novva’s data centre

At the hyperscale Novva data centre near Salt Lake City, USA, the operator’s cooling strategy is designed for maximum reliability and future orientation. The core of the waterless cooling concept is the PP‑RCT piping system aquatherm blue, which circulates the cooling medium in a closed loop and makes traditional evaporation cooling – and its high water consumption – unnecessary. Corrosion- and incrustation-free pipes ensure stable flow rates over the long term and significantly reduce leakage risks – a key factor for protecting critical IT infrastructure. Thanks to their low weight and welded joints, aquatherm blue could be integrated into the extensive underfloor construction. To learn more about the project at Novva data centre, click here. For more from aquatherm, click here.

Nscale, Figure partner to power physical AI

Nscale, a UK developer of AI data centres and cloud infrastructure, has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with humanoid robotics company Figure, including plans to deploy up to 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs to support the development of physical AI. The initial GPUs are targeted for deployment from the second half of 2027 at Nscale’s site in Barstow, Texas, USA. The agreement includes an initial commitment of $3.5 billion (£2.5 billion) in compute, with an intention to scale the partnership beyond $6 billion (£4.4 billion). Nscale will also become a Figure shareholder and its preferred compute provider, supporting the training and deployment of Figure’s Helix AI models for humanoid robotics. Compute supports humanoid robotics The partnership will use NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform and Nscale’s AI cloud infrastructure to provide compute for Figure’s models. The companies will also explore scaling Nscale’s supply chain using humanoid robots. Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, has stated that the partnership will connect model training, simulation, and deployment in Figure’s robots. He comments, “Humanoid robots extend physical AI into the world designed for people, opening a major new industry. Nscale and Figure have activated the robotics flywheel: training Figure's models on NVIDIA Vera Rubin through Nscale's AI cloud, validating them in NVIDIA Isaac Sim, and deploying them on NVIDIA GPUs in Figure's robots.” Brett Adcock, founder and CEO of Figure, adds, “To bring humanoid robots to every home in the world, we are largely constrained by data and compute. Our AI model, Helix, becomes more capable the same way every learned system does: with more data and compute. "Today, we're excited to partner with Nscale to bring the compute required to make this vision a reality.” For more from Nscale, click here.

Telxius boosts Caribbean connectivity with Cancun facility

Telxius, a Spanish operator of submarine cable networks and telecommunications infrastructure, has opened a carrier-neutral landing gateway and edge data centre in Cancun, Mexico, strengthening connectivity between the Caribbean, USA, Latin America, and Europe. The facility serves as a landing point for Tikal, a submarine cable connecting Puerto Barrios in Guatemala with Boca Raton in the US. Due to launch in the first half of 2027, Tikal is expected to provide an initial capacity of 380Tbps on its main trunk. Integrated into Telxius’s global network, the Cancun facility combines subsea connectivity, terrestrial networks, and edge computing. It is designed to support data-intensive and latency-sensitive workloads, including cloud, content, AI, and CDN deployments. Edge facility adds network resilience The Tier III facility incorporates N+1 and 2N redundancy across critical power and cooling systems, alongside physical and network security measures. Its carrier-neutral design allows customers to interconnect with multiple networks, cloud providers, and digital platforms. The facility also provides an alternative route to Santiago de Querétaro, expanding Telxius’s network presence in Mexico and adding route diversity for customers. Mónica Martínez, CMO at Telxius, says, “We’re excited to expand our network footprint in Mexico with our new facility in Cancun. It truly reflects the convergence of subsea connectivity, terrestrial networks, and edge infrastructure to create a unique digital hub for the Caribbean and the Americas. “By bringing connectivity and computing resources closer to where demand is growing, we enable lower latency, greater resilience, and faster access to cloud, content, and AI-driven services for customers across the region.” The Cancun development follows Telxius’s recent network expansion in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and adds to its existing infrastructure in the Caribbean and Mexico. For more from Telxius, click here.

NDCD, AVK, STEM Learning launch schools initiative

National Data Centre Day (NDCD), an awareness initiative dedicated to recognising the critical role data centres play in powering the UK's digital economy, has partnered with AVK and STEM Learning to launch the Data Centre STEM Ambassadors Programme, giving data centre professionals a route into schools across the UK. The programme forms part of STEM Learning’s existing STEM Ambassadors initiative, which connects more than 30,000 volunteers with classrooms. NDCD will encourage professionals across the data centre industry to register, creating a dedicated cohort to help teachers introduce digital infrastructure through subjects including computing, geography, and design technology. Ambassadors will support career talks, classroom sessions, and mentoring for students aged 8 to 16, helping them understand the technology they use and the people behind it. Industry targets future skills The initiative builds on NDCD26’s #BackToSchool theme, which aims to increase awareness of data centres among young people and highlight potential careers in the sector. Severine Trouillet, Chief Executive of STEM Learning, explains, "Meeting role models who showcase the professionals, technology, and skills behind data centres is invaluable for young people and their future career opportunities. "These interactions improve pupils and students' understanding, while helping them to see a career in data centres and associated technology as a viable, exciting, and achievable option." Sarah King, Head of Sustainability and Responsible Business at AVK, also notes that the programme can help the industry build stronger connections with schools and communities whilst addressing future skills requirements. The STEM Ambassadors Programme is free to join, and data centre operators, developers, technology providers, and other industry professionals can learn more during an online session on 29 September at 2pm, which will explain how the programme works and how to register. To join the session or find out more, contact eshenton@spacomms.com. For more from NDCD, click here.

Pure DC begins final build phase of 90MW LON01 campus

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has begun the final major construction phase of its £1 billion LON01 Brent Cross data centre campus in North London. General contractor Glencar has started piling works for the West Shell of the 70MW LON01B2 facility, with the development set to add more than 23,000m² to the campus. Completion is scheduled for Q2 2029, bringing total capacity to 90MW. LON01B2 will form part of a closed-loop, liquid-cooled data centre designed to support high-density AI inference and cloud workloads. The development includes recycled steel and other low-carbon materials. Once complete, more than 750,000 plants will be used to create a living wall around B2, intended to reduce noise and air pollution while also supporting biodiversity near Brent Reservoir’s Site of Special Scientific Interest. Dan Priest, Campus Delivery Director at Pure DC, notes, “Piling commencement represents an important milestone in the continued development of our Brent Cross campus. "LON01B2 is a major part of our investment in London’s digital infrastructure, and it is encouraging to see the final stage of construction now progressing on site.” Glencar is delivering the West Cold Shell, including piling and foundations, underground services, structural works, the building envelope, and roofing. Construction is taking place alongside operations and fit-out activity across the live campus. For more from Pure DC, click here.

iPronics raises $125m for AI optical networking

iPronics, a developer of silicon photonics-based optical circuit switching, has raised $125 million (£92.6 million) in Series B funding to scale its programmable optical networking technology for AI data centres. The round was co-led by Maverick Silicon and Light Street Capital, with NVIDIA and other new and existing investors also participating. The funding brings iPronics’s total investment to $177 million (£131 million). The company develops silicon photonics-based optical circuit switching (OCS) technology for AI infrastructure. It says the growth of AI clusters is increasing demand for optical connectivity as networks move beyond the limitations of copper in high-performance environments. Funding supports commercial deployment iPronics says the funding will be used to expand operations, accelerate commercial deployments, and meet demand for its Optical Networking Engine, a rack-mounted optical switch designed for AI applications. Christian Dupont, CEO of iPronics, comments, “With this investment, we can significantly accelerate our commercialisation, delivering the scale our customers need to drive broad adoption and ensuring data centres can fully utilise their GPUs without compromising performance.” The company notes that it has also opened an office in Santa Clara, California, as it expands its US presence and works to increase customer deployments and AI infrastructure partnerships.

Yamna reserves land for 250MW Brazil data centre

Yamna, a green hydrogen and derivatives platform, has signed a land reservation agreement at the Port of Açu in Brazil to support the development of a hyperscale, AI-ready data centre campus. The agreement secures an initial 20-hectare site within the Port of Açu industrial complex, 280km northeast of Rio de Janeiro, with a preferential right to expand by a further 20 hectares. The proposed campus is planned to have an initial capacity of 250MW in its first phase, with the potential to scale over time. Brazil is Latin America’s largest data centre market, with Microsoft, AWS, Google, and Oracle operating cloud regions in the country. Installed data centre IT capacity is approximately 1GW and is projected to triple by 2030, driven by AI workloads, cloud adoption, and hyperscale expansion. The Port of Açu site provides access to power, land within an established industrial complex, and potential subsea cable connectivity. What's more, Brazil’s national grid is approximately 85% renewable. The project builds on Yamna’s existing presence at the Port of Açu through its green hydrogen initiatives, as well as its relationships with local stakeholders and experience with the region’s regulatory environment. Abdelaziz Yatribi, CEO of Yamna, comments, “Securing this site at the Port of Açu is a major milestone in the expansion of [the] Yamna Digital Infrastructure global development platform. This project positions us to deliver hyperscale, AI-ready capacity at scale. "By combining our development expertise, power and large infrastructure development experience, strong local partnerships, and disciplined approach to project execution, we are creating a platform that can move quickly from development to delivery while providing an attractive opportunity for future partners and customers.” Port of Açu site offers expansion potential Eugenio Figueiredo, CEO of Porto of Açu, adds, “Yamna’s decision to expand its presence at the Port of Açu by reserving land for a future data centre reaffirms the company’s confidence in our assets and our long-term development vision. "We offer a unique combination of advantages for this type of project, including ample land availability, water from multiple sources, clean energy connected to Brazil’s National Interconnected System (SIN), and the potential for subsea cable connectivity through maritime routes. "These competitive strengths, combined with our industrial and logistics infrastructure, position the Port of Açu as one of the most attractive locations in Brazil for investments in digital infrastructure.” Yamna says it will now continue development work on the project, with further activities intended to reduce project risk and support the planned delivery timeline.

AI boom drives global power demand

Artificial intelligence and data centre expansion are reshaping global power markets, creating infrastructure constraints and changing investment priorities, according to global commercial real estate and investment management company JLL. North American data centre capacity is projected to nearly double from 57GW to 109GW by 2030, with hyperscalers expected to spend $200 billion (£148 billion) on capital expenditure in 2026, a 51% increase on 2025. JLL’s global Energy & Infrastructure Advisory platform says securing reliable power infrastructure has consequently become a key constraint for the AI economy. Transmission infrastructure, originally designed around large, centralised power stations, is also facing pressure from the growth of renewable energy sources. This has contributed to grid congestion across major markets in the USA, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Interconnection queues for new renewable projects now extend to four years or more in some regions, while some areas have paused new connections entirely. The impact varies between markets. In the USA, interconnection reform and exposure to merchant power are influencing deal structures. European regulatory frameworks are changing at different rates between member states, whilst data centre construction is outpacing grid planning in several Asia Pacific markets. "We've seen a generational shift in power demand as a result of data centres and AI," says Steven Jack, Head of Energy & Infrastructure Advisory, EMEA at JLL. "This was not on the radar until very recently. Utilities that were forecasting modest growth are now grappling with figures nearly double their previous estimates. "For any energy developer, without a grid connection, you don't have a project. For investors, this grid congestion translates directly into risk, but it also creates a scarcity premium for assets that provide or secure grid access. "In a world of geopolitical uncertainty, generating your own power is about energy sovereignty or energy autonomy and it's simply the cheapest way to produce power today." Battery storage gains importance Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are emerging as key infrastructure for managing grid constraints and renewable energy intermittency. "Batteries are a very important component and asset in that balancing act," notes Matt Eastwick, Group Head and Senior Managing Director, Energy & Infrastructure Advisory, US at JLL. "They act as shock absorbers for constrained grids, charging when power is cheap and abundant, then discharging when demand and price are high. "We're in a brave new world. Power demand is rising faster than grids were built to handle. Capital is available, but certainty is harder to find. In this environment, winners will be those who factor grid constraints and power availability into their investment decisions from day one." Grid access challenges are also prompting close partnerships between energy developers and data centre operators. Technology companies are increasingly becoming direct participants in energy markets, including through the acquisition of operating renewable assets to secure power supplies. James Cameron, Head of Energy & Infrastructure, APAC, JLL, explains, "In liberalised markets in Asia Pacific (such as Australia, India, Japan, and the Philippines), status and location of grid connection is the first question for investors and has the largest valuation impact for development assets. "In Australia, where legislation is expected to require that data centre developers ensure new renewable power generation matches additional capacity, we're seeing a range of innovative models, from joint ventures to [the] inclusion of batteries in data centre design to facilitate grid connection. "While the solution will differ depending on circumstances, it is clear we will see many more partnership opportunities and innovative solutions between data centre and energy clients across the region." JLL says power access has increasingly become a factor in the viability and valuation of data centre and energy assets, with investors looking beyond conventional power generation to assets that can provide greater flexibility and certainty in constrained markets. For more from JLL, click here.

DataVita submits plans for third Chapelhall data centre

DataVita, a UK data centre and cloud services provider, has submitted a planning application to North Lanarkshire Council for DV4, a proposed data centre at Chapelhall, as the company expands its existing campus. The site forms part of the Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone, designated by the UK Government in January 2026 as the first AI Growth Zone in Scotland. DataVita has operated at Chapelhall for more than 10 years. It owns and operates DV1, which the company describes as Scotland’s largest purpose-built Tier III-certified data centre, and is constructing DV3 next door. The company also operates a second facility in Glasgow. The application for planning permission in principle is supported by technical assessments covering energy and decarbonisation, noise, air quality, transport, flood risk and drainage, ecology and landscape, heritage, ground conditions, economic impact, and construction environmental management. DataVita also held four public consultation events, compared with the two required, and published exhibition material and a public FAQ online. The company says feedback from the consultation influenced the development design. Changes include reducing the maximum building height from 30m to 26m; moving an operational plant to the south of the building, away from homes; and planting around 1 kilometre of new native hedgerow, at least twice the length being removed. A feasibility study is also under way for a community garden and greenhouse heated using surplus data centre heat. DataVita says the proposal was raised by residents during consultation and would be funded through a community investment fund. Danny Quinn, Managing Director of DataVita, comments, "We have seen a lot of data centre speculation in Scotland recently, and the vast majority of it will never be built. "DataVita has been operating in Scotland for more than 10 years, and we already underpin a lot of the critical services used day in, day out, across Scotland. We built DV1 at Chapelhall, we are building DV3, and we run them ourselves with a Scottish team. DV4 is the next stage of that campus. "Not all data centres are the same, and we are keen to change the public perception. Scotland has an opportunity not only to become a data centre location, but an exporter of intelligence via low-carbon data centres. We don't think of exporting barley when we talk about the success of our whisky industry, and data centres should be no different. "The application is now with the council and open for comment, and I would encourage people to look at the detail." DV4 targets renewable power and low water use DataVita says DV4 has been designed around four criteria recommended by the Scottish Government for green data centres. The facility is planned to operate using 100% renewable electricity backed by certificated Scottish generation, with a target power usage effectiveness (PUE) of below 1.25. Its liquid cooling system will use a sealed, closed loop, with no evaporative cooling. DataVita has set a water usage target of 0.05 litres per kilowatt hour or lower. Heat recovery will also be incorporated from the outset, with DataVita in discussions with the Monklands Replacement Hospital and neighbouring BioCity campus about potential uses for surplus heat. The company has submitted an air quality assessment covering what it describes as deliberately extreme operating scenarios. These include all standby generators across DV1, DV3, and DV4 operating simultaneously, as well as a continuous 72-hour emergency. The DV4 generators will use renewable HVO fuel and advanced emissions controls. The installation will operate under a SEPA permit, which applies the best available techniques standard. The development represents £849.6 million of construction investment over two years, supporting 2,650 construction job years and 120 permanent skilled roles on site. DataVita also plans to provide apprenticeships, with at least 40% of capital contracts expected to be delivered by local suppliers. DV4 is expected to generate more than £30 million in business rates for North Lanarkshire Council over 25 years. DataVita also plans to invest £75 million over 15 years through a DV4 Community Investment Fund, which will be governed by an independent board and used for locally generated and led projects. The Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone is part of the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and is expected to bring £8.2 billion of private investment, more than 3,400 jobs, and a community fund of up to £543 million to the region. Scotland’s AI Strategy 2026-2031, published by the Scottish Government in March 2026, includes a commitment to promote Scotland as a centre for green data centres and to maximise the economic potential of the Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone. Data centres of this type are recognised as a national development under National Planning Framework 4. The application will be available through North Lanarkshire Council’s planning portal once validated, with members of the public able to make representations as part of the statutory planning process. For more from DataVita, click here.

New ProLabs transceivers extend network reach to 2,400km

ProLabs, a provider of optical connectivity and networking equipment, has introduced two QSFP-DD transceivers designed to extend the reach of coherent optical networks to distances of up to 2,400km. The QSFP-DD 800G ZR LH and QSFP-DD 400G ZR ULH transceivers are designed for carriers, service providers, and large-scale backbone networks requiring ultra-long-haul transmission. The products are intended to extend 400G and 800G network capacity across national and cross-continental infrastructure, while making greater use of existing long-haul fibre networks. “We are delighted to have expanded our range of ultra-long-haul transceivers ahead of Connected Britain,” says Stefan Löhmann, EMEA Sales Director at ProLabs. “Our solutions will enable national operators to deliver new and efficient long-haul services, making it easier to deliver high-bandwidth connectivity between cities, across countries, and over subsea links.” With network operators facing increasing traffic demands, the transceivers are designed to extend the usable reach of existing fibre infrastructure without requiring additional network infrastructure. Transceivers support up to 30 repeater hops While standard 400G products support around six repeater hops, the new transceivers are designed to support coherent optical transmission across up to 30 repeater hops, equating to approximately 2,400km. Stefan continues, "By reducing the need for additional infrastructure while still maintaining long-distance performance, we're helping operators lower both capital and operational expenditure. "Combined with our commitment to interoperability and availability, these new transceivers provide operators with an open, standards-based alternative to proprietary optical networking solutions." The transceivers are compatible with standard QSFP-DD ports, allowing them to be deployed on existing platforms without significant changes to hardware. Both products use modulation techniques and integrated digital signal processing (DSP) to compensate for laser detuning at each repeater and chromatic dispersion over extended distances. The 400G and 800G transceivers will be available for the first time at Connected Britain 2026 on ProLabs Stand D75. For more from ProLabs, click here.