Fujitsu developing 10,000+ qubit quantum computer

Japanese multinational ICT company Fujitsu today announced it has started research and development towards a superconducting quantum computer with a capacity exceeding 10,000 qubits. Construction is slated for completion in fiscal 2030. The new superconducting quantum computer will operate with 250 logical qubits and will utilise Fujitsu's 'STAR architecture,' an early-stage fault-tolerant quantum computing (early-FTQC) architecture also developed by the company. Fujitsu aims to make practical quantum computing possible - particularly in areas like materials science, where complex simulations could unlock ground breaking discoveries - and, to this end, will focus on advancing key scaling technologies across various technical domains. As part of this effort, Fujitsu has been selected as an implementing party for the 'Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems,' publicly solicited by the NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation). The company will be contributing to the thematic area of advancing the development of quantum computers towards industrialisation. The project will be promoted through joint research with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and RIKEN, and will run until fiscal year 2027. After this 10,000-qubit machine is built, the company says it will further pursue advanced research initiatives targeting the integration of superconducting and diamond spin-based qubits from fiscal 2030, aiming to realise a 1,000 logical qubit machine in fiscal 2035, while considering the possibility of multiple interconnected quantum bit-chips. Comments Vivek Mahajan, Corporate Executive Officer, Corporate Vice President, CTO, in charge of System Platform, Fujitsu, claims, "Fujitsu is already recognised as a world leader in quantum computing across a broad spectrum, from software to hardware. "This project, led by NEDO, will contribute significantly to Fujitsu’s goal of further developing a 'Made in Japan' fault tolerant superconducting quantum computer. "We would also be aiming to combine superconducting quantum computing with diamond spin technology as part of our roadmap. "By realising 250 logical qubits in fiscal 2030 and 1,000 logical qubits in fiscal 2035, Fujitsu is committed to leading the path forward globally in the field of quantum computing. "Additionally, Fujitsu will be developing the next generation of its HPC platform, using its FUJITSU-MONAKA processor line, which will also power FugakuNEXT. Fujitsu will further integrate its platforms for high-performance and quantum computing to offer a comprehensive computing platform to our customers." Focus areas for technological development Fujitsu says its research efforts will focus on developing the following scaling technologies: • High-throughput, high-precision qubit manufacturing technology — Improvement of the manufacturing precision of Josephson Junctions, critical components of superconducting qubits which minimise frequency variations. • Chip-to-chip interconnect technology — Development of wiring and packaging technologies to enable the interconnection of multiple qubit chips, facilitating the creation of larger quantum processors. • High-density packaging and low-cost qubit control — Addressing the challenges associated with cryogenic cooling and control systems, including the development of techniques to reduce component count and heat dissipation. • Decoding technology for quantum error correction — Development of algorithms and system designs for decoding measurement data and correcting errors in quantum computations. Background The world faces increasingly complex challenges that demand computational power beyond the reach of traditional computers. Quantum computers offer the promise of tackling these previously intractable problems, driving advancements across numerous fields. While a fully fault-tolerant quantum computer with 1 million qubits of processing power is considered the ultimate goal, Fujitsu states it is focused on delivering practical solutions in the near term. In August 2024, in collaboration with the University of Osaka, Fujitsu unveiled its 'STAR architecture,' an efficient quantum computing architecture based on phase rotation gates. This architecture could pave the way for early-FTQC systems capable of outperforming conventional computers with only 60,000 qubits. On the hardware front, the RIKEN RQC-Fujitsu Collaboration Center, established in 2021 with RIKEN, has already yielded a 64-qubit superconducting quantum computer in October 2023, followed by a 256-qubit system in April 2025. Scaling to even larger systems requires overcoming challenges such as maintaining high fidelity across multiple interconnected qubit chips and achieving greater integration of components and wiring within dilution refrigerators. In addition to its superconducting approach, Fujitsu is reportedly also exploring the potential of diamond spin-based qubits, which use light for qubit connectivity. The company is conducting research in this area in collaboration with Delft University of Technology and QuTech, a quantum technology research institute, which has resulted in the successful creation of accurate and controllable qubits. For more from Fujitsu, click here.

Sabey announces Austin Building B

Sabey Data Centers, a data centre developer, owner, and operator, has announced that construction is under way for Building B on its growing Austin campus, located in the burgeoning tech corridor of Round Rock, Texas. This three-storey facility is designed to deliver a total of 54 megawatts of power capacity, with the first 18 megawatts expected to be ready for service in Q3 2027. Sabey says Austin B continues its commitment to building "scalable, energy-efficient digital infrastructure tailored for enterprise and hyperscale needs." The facility is liquid-cooling-ready by design, building on Austin Building A, where 86% of current deployments are liquid-cooled. This next phase of development hopes to ensure that Sabey is well-positioned to support the rising demand for high-density compute environments such as AI, HPC, and advanced research workloads. “As we continue to expand our national footprint, launching construction on Austin B represents an important milestone in serving one of the country’s fastest-growing technology markets,” comments Tim Mirick, President of Sabey Data Centers. “The Round Rock facility is purpose-built for flexibility and efficiency, and it offers an ideal home for forward-thinking customers with evolving density needs.” Preleasing is now open, with the building being engineered to accommodate a range of cooling strategies and power densities, including hybrid and liquid-cooled deployments exceeding 200 kilowatts per rack. Sabey Data Centers is a joint venture between Sabey Corporation and National Real Estate Advisors, acting as the investment manager on behalf of its institutional clients. For more from Sabey, click here.

Mayflex signs distribution agreement with Schleifenbauer

Mayflex, a UK-based distributor of converged IP infrastructure, networking, and electronic security products, has announced a new distribution agreement with Schleifenbauer, adding the Netherlands-based manufacturer’s power distribution units (PDUs) and energy management tools to the Elevate brand’s data centre infrastructure portfolio. The partnership aims to support Mayflex’s ongoing focus on high-performance computing (HPC) and data centre (DC) environments, with a particular emphasis on providing equipment that is efficient, scalable, and compliant with European standards. Schleifenbauer, which designs and manufactures its products in the Netherlands, will supply intelligent PDUs and related energy management software for integration into the Elevate range. The collaboration hopes to enhance delivery times and flexibility, particularly for UK and Ireland customers. Product and operational features The partnership will see the inclusion of several features designed to improve operational performance and ease of use across data centre projects: • European manufacturing — All Schleifenbauer equipment is produced in the Netherlands, allowing for consistent quality control, shorter lead times, and full EU regulatory compliance. • Customisable production — The company offers a flexible manufacturing model with no minimum order requirements. This allows Mayflex customers to request individual units for trial projects, or bulk orders for larger-scale deployment, while maintaining consistent performance standards. • Energy monitoring software — Schleifenbauer’s energy management platform is available at no extra cost. The software enables real-time monitoring and optimisation of energy usage across installations. • Hot-swappable modules — PDUs include hot-swappable control components, enabling updates or maintenance without downtime. • Short lead times — Schleifenbauer’s production model supports faster turnaround and delivery times, which Mayflex aims to leverage across the Elevate product range. Comments from the companies Simon Jacobs, Product Manager at Mayflex, says, “We’re excited to welcome Schleifenbauer as a technology partner to our Elevate brand. Their intelligent power solutions are a perfect fit for our growing data centre portfolio. "The combination of European manufacturing, rapid lead times, and advanced features - like hot-swappable modules and free energy management software - makes this a compelling proposition for our customers.” Stuart Edmonds, UK and Ireland Sales Manager at Schleifenbauer, adds, “Partnering with Mayflex is a strategic move that allows us to expand our reach in the UK and Ireland. "Mayflex’s reputation for technical excellence and customer service aligns perfectly with our values. Together, we’re well-positioned to support the evolving needs of the HPC and data centre markets.”

Zayo Europe sees network expansion across UK and Germany

Network infrastructure provider Zayo Europe has reported a 61% increase in the total number of route miles it powers during the first half of 2025, compared to the second half of 2024. The growth has been spread across multiple European markets, with notable increases in the UK (241%) and Germany (173%). The company has attributed part of this expansion to its partnership with GasLINE. The figures reflect the momentum built since Zayo Europe became an independent entity in mid-2024. Since then, the company has focused on delivering network infrastructure across Europe’s complex and highly interconnected digital landscape. A major part of Zayo Europe’s current strategy involves increasing connectivity between data centres. The company now connects 600 sites across the continent, supporting digital services used by businesses, enterprises, and consumers. Alongside network expansion, Zayo Europe has also grown its workforce. Headcount rose by 10% during H1 2025, with roles added across delivery, customer service, finance, and internal operations. Further expansion is expected in the second half of the year, following Zayo Europe’s full acquisition of the Emerald Bridge subsea cable. The system provides G.652D dark fibre and high-capacity wave services between the UK and Dublin, Ireland. In the company's own words Colman Deegan, CEO at Zayo Europe, claims, “We always viewed H1 2025 as a pivotal period for Zayo Europe, marking a full year since we established ourselves as an independent entity. "While growth has always been a key success metric, the pace at which our best-in-class fibre infrastructure is now connecting data centres and points of presence across major European markets is especially encouraging as we look ahead to the remainder of 2025 and beyond. “Our continued network expansion not only enhances our service capabilities but also empowers our customers with greater reach, flexibility, and resilience, enabling them to scale operations, optimise performance, and react to evolving demands with confidence. “The growth achieved so far this year is testament to the strength and dedication of our team at Zayo Europe. Service excellence is in our DNA and is frequently cited as a driving force behind our ability to secure new partnerships and mission-critical connectivity projects. "That said, we’re not standing still. We’re aiming to continue this momentum throughout the rest of the year and well into 2026.” For more from Zayo Europe, click here.

Nxtra signs partnership with AMPIN

Indian data centre operator Nxtra (by Airtel) has signed a new agreement with AMPIN Energy Transition for an additional 125.65 MW of solar-wind hybrid energy via Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) connected projects. This brings the total renewable energy capacity supplied to Nxtra by AMPIN to more than 200 MW. The added capacity will be delivered in two phases, through captive projects located in Rajasthan and Karnataka. These will complement AMPIN’s existing supply of solar energy to Nxtra through intra-state, open access arrangements in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. Under the new agreement, AMPIN will expand its service to 11 additional states and introduce new technologies, including large-scale ISTS-based renewable energy and consolidated supply from a single Independent Power Producer (IPP). Ashish Arora, CEO of Nxtra, says, “Sustainability is not just a commitment, it is our responsibility and our opportunity to lead. "By powering our digital infrastructure with over 200 MW of renewable energy through our partnership with AMPIN, we are setting new standards for the industry. "This achievement highlights our leadership in using ISTS-backed clean energy to power our facilities sustainably, boosting reliability, and ensuring tangible climate impact. "At Nxtra, we are determined to drive innovation and inspire action, ensuring that our operations not only support India’s digital growth but also protect its environment for generations to come.” Pinaki Bhattacharyya, founder, Managing Director, and CEO of AMPIN, adds, “With this partnership, we demonstrate that through a seamless blend of inter-state and intra-state renewable energy solutions backed by a pan-India presence, we can take any customer through a nearly 100% energy transition. "Nxtra by Airtel, a leader in the data and fast-growing data centre space, shares our vision for sustainability and we are proud to make data centres green by this association.” AMPIN’s approach aims to establish long-term relationships with customers by offering energy supply across various technologies and regions. It says the collaboration with Nxtra highlights the role of large-scale renewable energy agreements in increasing operational efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Nxtra, likewise, says it has committed to reaching net zero emissions and is aligning its efforts with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) guidance. As part of this effort, the company is implementing a range of measures to reduce its direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2) greenhouse gas emissions. In June 2024, Nxtra joined the global RE100 initiative, pledging to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. It became the first data centre operator in India, and the 14th Indian company overall, to join the programme. For more from Nxtra, click here.

EUDCA announces Board of Directors for 2025/27

Further to member voting during its annual general meeting (AGM) held on 11 June 2025, the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA), the representative body of the European data centre community, has announced its Board of Directors to steer it up to 2027. Board members met subsequently to appoint key positions and renew the mandates of existing committees and their leadership. A new Board to serve the EUDCA for 2025/27 Technical expertise, extensive experience, and commercial acumen is abundant across the Board, with knowledge spanning the entire data centre lifecycle, from investment and design to sustainability/ESG and operations. The EUDCA says that the "combined expertise of the Board is instrumental for the Association to advocate and serve its members." The Board now comprises of the following: • Lex Coors, Digital Realty — President of EUDCA & Policy Committee Chair• Laurens van Reijen, LCL Data Centres — Treasurer• Bruce Owen, Equinix — Vice President• Marie Chabanon, Data4 — Vice President, EUDCA & Technical Committee Chair• Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association — Vice President• Dick Theunissen, EdgeConneX — Vice President, EUDCA & NTA representative• Matt Pullen, CyrusOne — Board Member, EUDCA & CNDCP Chair• Adam Eaton, Global Switch — Board Member• Andrew Harrison, Arup — Board Member• Matthew Baynes, Schneider Electric — Board Member, EUDCA & NTA representative• Antoine Lesserteur, France Datacenter — Board Member• Stijn Grove, Dutch Data Center Association — Board Member, EUDCA & NTA representative• Michael Winterson, EUDCA — Secretary General Leading the EUDCA Lex Coors, Chief Data Center Technology and Engineering Officer at Digital Realty, unanimously retained his position as elected President to guide board and association operations. Michael Winterson continues as Secretary General, with Laurens van Reijen of LCL Data Centers as Treasurer. The EUDCA board also appointed four new Vice Presidents: Bruce Owen, Equinix; Marie Chabanon, Data4; Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association; and Dick Theunissen, EdgeConneX. As a founding member of the Climate Neutral Data Center Pact (CNDCP), the EUDCA maintains a permanent Board seat at the Pact. As such, the EUDCA says it is happy to re-appoint Board Member Matt Pullen as the representative to the Pact where he will maintain his Chair position. Michael Winterson, Secretary General, EUDCA, comments, “As Europe moves to deliver its goals for a booming digital economy and strong AI sector, its dependence upon digital infrastructure has never been more critical. "The EUDCA continues to serve as the independent voice for Europe’s data centre community, connecting with policy makers to add nuance to the legislative process for regulations that advance digital growth. “The EUDCA remains a trusted and authoritative voice for the data centre industry. In a world of changing sentiments, we maintain a focus on the efficiency and sustainability of data centre services through our close association with the CNDCP. "As a board, we remain committed to being at the forefront of shaping policy within Europe, protecting the interests of our constituents whilst looking after the planet.” EUDCA committees bolster leadership Having renewed the mandates of existing committees with some restructuring, the Policy Committee sees Lex Coors reappointed as Chair and Eve Fensome (Stack Infrastructure) as Deputy Chair. The Technical Committee will be led by Marie Chabanon as Chair and Chad McCarthy (nLighten) as Deputy Chair. National trade associations work with the EUDCA From the national trade associations, the three existing representatives - Stijn Grove, Dutch Data Center Association; Antoine Lesserteur, France Datacenter; and Isabelle Kemlin, Swedish Datacenter Industry Association - were confirmed as part of the board. For more from the EUDCA, click here.

Report: 'UK risks losing billions in AI investment'

According to a new report published today from trade association TechUK, the Data Centre Alliance, Copper Consultancy, and law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, the UK risks losing out on billions in AI investment if it doesn’t take clear steps to unlock data centre development. The report, How to Make the UK an AI Leader, brings together reflections from some of the biggest data centre developers - as well as planners and construction, engineering, and legal professions - at a recent industry roundtable organised by Copper and Charles Russell Speechlys. The roundtable, and subsequent report, lay bare the challenges facing data centre development in the UK, and the impacts this could have on investment into UK plc. Key regulatory barriers – such as energy availability, energy cost, and planning complexity – were identified alongside low public awareness as the main issues hobbling development of data centres in the UK. Luisa Cardani, Head of Data Centre Programme at TechUK, says, “The insights in this report echo what TechUK and the sector have been advocating for a long time: the UK has the talent, the ambition, and the capability to lead in AI and digital infrastructure, but leadership is not guaranteed. It requires bold decisions, cross-sector collaboration, and a shared national vision.” Steve Hone, CEO at Data Centre Alliance, adds, “As [a] trade association representing the UK data centre digital sector, we were delighted to be invited to collaborate in the recent roundtable which has culminated in the creation of this report. "This timely report is an important contribution to the debate and hopefully will act as a catalyst for the action needed to ensure the UK’s digital infrastructure remains world leading.” The report notes how high energy prices are currently hindering the UK's global competitiveness in data centres and AI - actively dissuading investment in the UK. Given the resource-intensive nature of data centres, the report suggests that the industry needs the Government to intervene through targeted subsidies, reducing costs to match energy costs in rival regions like the US and Nordics. Concerns have also been raised with 'AI Growth Zones' being seen as a "silver bullet for the industry." Whilst, according to the report, the industry welcomes government support, the current planning framework is seen as "overly rigid" and "risks misalignment with actual demand and repeating past planning mistakes like Slough's unplanned growth." As a response, a new planning use class could allow for flexible, demand-led planning, which would be especially important in the fast-moving AI industry. Finally, public perception is seen as a critical non-regulatory issue for the sector to tackle, with half the UK’ s population not knowing what a data centre is. Such low awareness leaves the public open to misinformation and a fundamental lack of understanding as to why data centres are critical to a future economy. The report calls on the industry to engage more proactively on the needs case for data centres with the public, supported by the Government outlining why their development is critical to growth. Ronan Cloud, Director at Copper Consultancy, argues, “While Grey Belt reforms are beneficial, considerable planning inertia remains. Government should create a dedicated planning use class for data centres at once, distinct from broader industrial uses. "This tailored classification would increase planning approvals and accommodate future technological developments.” Kevin Gibbs, Senior Consultant at Charles Russell Speechlys, comments, “Whilst the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan commits £2 billion to AI Growth Zones to accelerate infrastructure delivery, there is much more that both the industry and Government can, and should, be doing. "To truly become an AI leader and unlock economic growth, the UK needs to make a clear and compelling case for data centres. It needs to act now to alleviate some of the barriers.”

Sitehop, Red Helix testing quantum-ready encryption

Sitehop, a UK startup focused on quantum encryption, has announced its partnership with Red Helix, a network and security testing company, to bring advanced testing in-house and to "supercharge" the critical speed-testing of its encrypted data transmission, utilising a Teledyne LeCroy Xena system. With support from a five-figure 'productivity grant' from South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority, Sitehop has invested in a Teledyne LeCroy Xena Loki 100G traffic-generation and testing platform, which enables bi-directional testing of sub-microsecond latency in 100Gbps networks. Bringing testing in-house has also reportedly eliminated delays and risks in export and customs, which included a minimum two-week turnaround at more than £18,000 per testing cycle. Previously, Sitehop relied on an outsourced facility in France, but the new UK-based set up enables them to complete testing in a single day, freeing the time of Sitehop’s engineering teams and boosting their productivity. Sitehop uses the Xena Loki device to test and validate its Sitehop SAFEcore platform, capable of 835 nanoseconds latency at 100Gbps encryption. The platform can support 4,000 concurrent connections, deploying "crypto-agile" encryption for use in sectors such as telecoms, financial services, government, and critical national infrastructure. Testing with the Xena Loki device covers peak load conditions, burst traffic, error injection and fault recovery, and end-to-end encrypted traffic flows. Multi-stream stress tests, mixed protocol environments, and real-time encrypted traffic benchmarking are part of the processes. According to the company, the "speed and accuracy" of the Xena Loki platform enables Sitehop to validate latency, throughput, packet-loss, and error-handling across different profiles. This is important to prove the Sitehop SAFEcore platform has the necessary performance and resilience in high-bandwidth, low-latency environments and is ready for new use cases such as 5G backhaul, wearable security technology, and the evolution of post-quantum cryptography. “Testing in this way is a strategic enabler for us, accelerating product release cycles and reducing the risk of field failure while providing clients with higher levels of confidence during procurement,” says Melissa Chambers, co-founder and CEO of Sitehop. “This is a major selling-point for enterprise and critical infrastructure environments.” “We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of the next generation of British tech manufacturing and believe we are part of a resurgence of innovation in the UK. We are proving that deep tech, hardware innovation, and cyber resilience can thrive here. "As we expand globally and target high-assurance sectors, our ability to validate performance independently and rapidly becomes a cornerstone of our growth model. The grant we received has been hugely important, enabling us to bring a critical capability in-house that has accelerated our growth momentum.” Baseline validation using the Xena Loki device is in line with the benchmarks RFC 2544 and Y.1564. In practice, however, the Sitehop SAFEcore system - the company claims - "frequently outperforms the scope of traditional methodologies, requiring custom profiles including simulated threat-scenarios, multi-session encrypted traffic under dynamic key exchange, and adaptive stream-shaping." Liam Jackson, Director of Technology Solutions at Red Helix, comments, “We are thrilled to work with Sitehop, an exciting start-up company demonstrating that hardware-based security innovation is alive and well in the UK. "Testing quantum-ready security platforms requires precise accuracy, reliability, and sustained high-speed throughput, which software-only traffic-generation tools can struggle to deliver. "Sitehop understands this, and by harnessing the hardware-based Teledyne LeCroy Xena Loki platform, it hugely accelerates essential testing, gaining the speed, precision, and confidence to bring its cutting-edge solutions to market faster without impacting quality.”

'AI boom triggers 160% data centre power surge'

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries from healthcare to finance, but it comes with a massive energy footprint. Data centres, the backbone of AI, consume huge amounts of power, pushing companies like Meta, Google, and Microsoft to find sustainable solutions. The complexity and scale of AI models, particularly training large neural networks, require extraordinary computational power, resulting in substantial carbon emissions. For example, maintaining optimal cooling in data centres alone adds significant energy overhead. This demand is further driven by AI technologies like autonomous vehicles and predictive analytics, which require continuous data processing. The increased energy use means more burning of coal, oil, and natural gas, which leads to higher emissions. With renewable energy not scaling fast enough, fossil fuels are still the main power source for many data centres. This reliance is especially concerning given projections that power demand in data centres will increase by 160% by 2030, with AI’s energy needs growing rapidly. Recent headlines show the scale of the challenge: Meta’s landmark 20-year deal to source nuclear power for its Illinois data centres underlines just how critical nuclear energy has become in meeting AI’s soaring electricity demand. Meanwhile, Google’s agreements to power its data centres with small nuclear reactors and Microsoft’s plans to restart the Three Mile Island plant further highlight how these tech giants are betting big on nuclear to keep AI running without ramping up carbon emissions. AI boom threatens net zero goals Data centres, the backbone of AI-powered systems, are among the most energy-intensive facilities in the world. According to the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), operators must now demonstrate continual energy improvements. This directive aligns with broader regulations like the European Climate Law, which enforces the EU’s target of climate neutrality by 2050. In the UK, schemes like ESOS Phase 3 place additional energy reporting and efficiency requirements on operators. In Europe, three of the largest economies - the UK, Germany, and France - are at the forefront of efforts to decarbonise their economies and transition to net zero. However, the data centres operating within these countries are facing significant challenges in meeting their decarbonisation and sustainability targets. Recent findings from a CFP Energy survey highlight that while the majority of data centres in these countries have a net-zero strategy in place, achieving their targets remains elusive. Net zero strategy adoption • UK: 94% have a net zero strategy, but 22% are not meeting their decarbonisation and sustainability targets.• Germany: 90% have a net zero strategy, but 30% are falling short of their targets.• France: 86% have a net zero strategy, with 14% not hitting their targets. These statistics underscore a critical reality: despite ambitious targets and high adoption rates of net zero strategies, achieving actual decarbonisation is proving to be a major hurdle. This trend is particularly concerning as AI demand is poised to increase significantly. If the cost equation remains imbalanced, we may soon face a situation where net zero targets are discarded in favour of meeting the demands of AI, as is already happening in various parts of the world. The growing reliance on carbon offsetting With the rapid increase in energy demand from AI, many large tech companies, including Microsoft, are turning to carbon credits and voluntary carbon projects as a means to mitigate their environmental impact. This has become crucial for companies that simply cannot reduce their energy consumption with current technologies. For instance, Microsoft recently entered into an agreement with Re-Green, committing to offset its emissions through carbon credit purchases and climate-positive projects. While these measures help compensate for carbon emissions, they highlight a gap in current energy solutions: the technology and power infrastructure are not yet capable of fully supporting the sustainable growth of AI. Mitigating the environmental footprint of AI and data centres CFP Energy, a UK-based provider of energy trading, risk management, and environmental services, says it advocates for: • Sustainable construction — Reducing environmental impact from the outset by using low-embodied-carbon materials in data centre design, which helps cut emissions during both construction and operation. • Advanced cooling systems — Improving energy efficiency through approaches like liquid cooling, which reduce electricity usage while maintaining optimal performance in increasingly power-intensive environments. • Voluntary carbon offsetting — Compensating for unavoidable emissions with verified carbon credits. However, recent disputes - such as the suspension of a Kenyan soil-carbon project involving Netflix and Meta - reveal serious concerns about transparency, community impact, and oversight. These events highlight the need for stronger governance and ethical standards across the voluntary carbon market. • Collaboration — Developing joint solutions with governments, utilities, and technology partners - including renewable energy agreements and efficient hardware - to drive systemic progress and ensure sustainable AI infrastructure at scale. A legislative push towards sustainability The policy environment is rapidly evolving, with regulations like the Digital Operations Resilience Act and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive mandating transparency on emissions and energy efficiency. Operators who fail to adapt risk falling behind, both in compliance and customer retention. Businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability, and carbon-conscious customers are gravitating towards providers with robust strategies for renewable energy adoption and operational efficiency. George Brown, Sustainability Researcher for Data Centres at CFP, comments, “The climate emergency is a clear signal for change, and we need sustainable solutions now. “While AI is driving innovation and is critical to our digital future, it - and the data centres that support it - must align with the environmental imperatives of the 21st century. "Data centres need to operate in a way that supports, rather than undermines, our environmental goals. Despite widespread net zero strategies, many data centres are failing to meet their targets. “At CFP Energy, we believe collaboration is key. Tech companies, governments, and energy providers must work together. Sustainable construction, advanced cooling, and voluntary carbon offsetting are essential. "Carbon credits are a temporary solution, but long-term investments in renewables and efficiency must accelerate. "Regulations are pushing for greater transparency and efficiency, and businesses that don’t adapt risk penalties and losing eco-conscious customers. AI’s growth must align with sustainability, and CFP Energy is committed to leading the transition. "Every stakeholder - governments, businesses, and consumers - must work together to ensure a sustainable digital landscape. Each has a role to play in ensuring that our digital future is also a sustainable one.”

DCNN supports new National Data Centre Day initiative

DCNN is proud to support the launch of National Data Centre Day, a new annual awareness initiative recognising the critical role that data centres play in powering the UK’s digital economy, public services, and AI-driven future. Taking place each year on 12 September, the day is set to commemorate the moment in 2021 when data centres were formally recognised by the UK Government as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). This classification reflects their essential role in maintaining the digital systems and services that modern society relies on, from banking and healthcare to smart cities and generative AI. National Data Centre Day aims to celebrate the innovation, sustainability, and skilled people behind the industry, while encouraging greater awareness and engagement across the UK. As one of several industry supporters backing the campaign, DCNN encourages its readers, partners, and the wider community to learn more and get involved. Visit the website to find out how to take part.