Data Centre Build News & Insights

AFL: Why AI infrastructure planning is changing

In recent years, AI infrastructure discussions centred predominantly on training clusters. Industry attention focused on larger models, sizeable GPU estates, dense scale-out fabrics, and the synchronisation demands created by collective communication across thousands of accelerators. In 2026, however, deployment patterns point to inference as the dominant operational AI workload. This transition introduces infrastructure behaviours that extend beyond the assumptions of traditional training environments. While much of the industry conversation still focuses on accelerators and compute scale, less attention is given to the implications for network architecture, optical connectivity, and physical infrastructure design. In response, AFL, a manufacturer of fibre optic cables and connectivity equipment, has developed a whitepaper series to help address that gap. The first paper, Architecting AI at Scale: From Training Clusters to Inference-Driven Infrastructure, introduces six workload categories representing the evolving AI deployment landscape. These include synchronous training fabrics, throughput inference systems, disaggregated reasoning architectures, heterogeneous decode environments, context-centric infrastructure, and workflow orchestration platforms. The paper provides practical insight into evolving network behaviours, optical requirements, and multi-domain infrastructure planning. Future instalments will examine the engineering implications in greater depth. Click here to register to receive email notifications as soon as each paper in the series becomes available. For more from AFL, click here.

Experts urge sustainable requirements for new developments

Industry experts are calling on the UK Government to introduce stronger sustainability requirements for new data centre developments, following reports that the sector's future energy demand could exceed previous forecasts. The comments follow a report by The Times suggesting that growing demand from data centres could significantly increase national electricity consumption, driven in part by the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Concerns have also been raised over proposals for some large-scale developments to build dedicated gas-fired power generation to overcome grid capacity constraints. David Woon, Head of Net Zero Engineering and Operations at Ennovus Solutions, says, “The figures for the expected energy demand of data centres are staggering, but immediately pivoting to new gas power stations is incredibly disappointing. "The space and resources required to build a new gas power plant could almost certainly be used instead for significant renewable generation development - ideally utilising wind turbines to better match the consistent, 24/7 energy demand of these facilities. “While on-site renewables may not provide 100% of the baseline power required by these data centres, a forward-thinking country aiming for energy independence and climate mitigation should jump at the chance to integrate green generation directly into planning permissions. "We already mandate solar panels on new-build homes; why are we not implementing similar, strict sustainable development mandates for industrial-scale data centres? “Furthermore, as the Government considers mandating grid ‘flexibility’ from operators, we must look beyond standard battery technologies like lithium-ion. Long-standing, energy-hungry data centres need a technology that matches their requirements, like Vanadium Flow batteries. They are suited to large energy demand projects, provide up to double the lifespan of lithium-ion, experience no degradation, and avoid environmentally hazardous, scarce materials like cobalt and lithium. "If battery storage is on the table to support the National Grid, it is nonsensical not to bring on-site renewable generation into the exact same conversation.” Grid constraints remain a major challenge Lee Ackerman, Utilities General Manager at Connectus Utilities, adds that while infrastructure upgrades are possible, they are likely to require significant investment and lengthy delivery timescales. He says, “The reality is that, while resolving these infrastructure bottlenecks is physically possible, it carries massive cost and time implications. "The National Energy System Operator (NESO) and Ofgem have transitioned the grid from a ‘first come, first served’ model to a ‘first ready and needed, first connected’ approach. "While major structural upgrades, new on-shore power lines, and smart grid sensors are scheduled for rollout between 2026 and 2028, there is an immense amount of work to do before we see true grid relief by 2030. “Every utility connection faces identical hurdles: cable lengths, land access, and complex legal processes. It’s not just an electricity problem either; data centres require major water capacity for cooling. “Developers could and should be targeting the Environmental Discounts offered in Water Charging Statements, aiming for Tier 2 or Tier 3 water neutrality incentives through advanced rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. "Some might argue that technology will naturally become more efficient over time, but history shows that as components shrink, developers simply pack more technology into the same footprint. The energy demand isn’t going to drop on its own; we must build [in] sustainability from day one.” The comments highlight growing debate around how future AI and data centre infrastructure should be powered, with industry figures calling for greater emphasis on renewable energy generation, long-duration energy storage, water efficiency, and sustainable design principles during the planning process.

Pure DC completes cross-border biomethane deal

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has completed what it describes as Europe's first large-scale cross-border biomethane purchase for a data centre, transferring 9GWh of certified biomethane from Germany to the Irish gas network. The transaction follows a proof-of-concept project announced in March 2026 and represents a significant increase in scale. According to Pure DC, the deal demonstrates that biomethane can be used to support the decarbonisation of gas-connected data centres through existing energy infrastructure and certification frameworks. The biomethane was produced in Germany during 2025 using waste and residue feedstocks. The fuel is certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) scheme and complies with the requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II and RED III. Pure DC says the biomethane has a carbon intensity of less than 12gCO₂/MJ, meeting thresholds required for zero-rated treatment under the EU Emissions Trading System, subject to approval of monitoring plans by the relevant authorities. The gas was mass balanced from the German network to Ireland through existing interconnectors, with renewable attributes tracked through the Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) Renewable Gas Registry. Biomethane forms part of wider net zero strategy Pure DC says renewable gas is intended to act as a transitional measure within its broader strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. The company is continuing to pursue biomethane procurement from Irish, European, and UK sources while also developing longer-term initiatives including renewable energy integration, energy storage, and efficiency improvements. Ireland's National Biomethane Strategy targets production of up to 5.7TWh of domestic biomethane annually by 2030. While local production capacity continues to develop, imports can help meet demand through existing gas infrastructure and certification systems. Maria Jose Rivas Duarte, Director of Sustainability at Pure DC, says, "This milestone supports Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and aligns with the LEU policy, under which data centres must meet at least 80% of their annual energy demand with additional renewable electricity. "By demonstrating that cross-border biomethane can be procured, mass balanced, and registered at volume through existing infrastructure, we are helping to pave the way for broader data centre sector adoption as well as other industries seeking a credible route to decarbonise natural gas." Pure DC says the transaction forms part of a strategy to develop a diversified biomethane portfolio spanning multiple geographies, feedstocks, and supply arrangements. Agnes Warner, Property Director at Pure DC, says, "Our biomethane procurement strategy is designed to build a balanced portfolio that provides long-term security and credibility. "For our customers, this means a demonstrable, auditable pathway to lower embedded emissions, making our platform more attractive to hyperscalers and enterprise customers while supporting their sustainability commitments." For more from Pure DC, click here.

Green Horizon secures approval for Norway data centre

Green Horizon, a Norwegian developer of hydropower-backed, AI-ready data centres, has received planning approval for Norway 1, a 36MW data centre development near Stavanger that is scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2027. The approval follows the earlier granting of zoning permission for the site and allows the Norwegian developer to progress to final design and construction. The company is currently working with consultants and contractors ahead of a planned construction start later this year. Located on Norway's southwest coast, Norway 1 is being developed as a carrier-neutral and cloud-neutral facility designed to provide connectivity to the UK, mainland Europe, and onward routes to North America. The facility will be built to Tier III standards and is designed to support high-density AI, GPU, and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. Green Horizon says the site will include two 'Meet-Me Rooms', diverse connectivity options, and access to multiple network providers. Norway 1 forms the first phase of the company's wider data centre platform in the Stavanger region, where 96MW of power capacity has been secured across three planned developments. The company says the facility will be powered by renewable hydropower and is targeting a power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.1 at full load. Heat reuse strategy integrated into design A key element of the project is its heat reuse strategy. Green Horizon plans to supply excess heat generated by the data centre to both a new greenhouse that will be integrated into the facility's design and an existing commercial greenhouse located adjacent to the site. According to the company, the new greenhouse will be constructed directly above the data centre, enabling waste heat to be reused as part of a wider symbiosis partnership with Norway's largest greenhouse operator. The concept has been technically validated and approved by the local municipality. Operations at the site will be supported by CBRE, which will provide operational services and monitoring. Richard Rettedal, CEO of Green Horizon, comments, "Securing planning approval for Norway 1 marks a major milestone for Green Horizon and for our ambition to build Norway’s AI data centre platform. "Customers deploying AI and high-performance compute need dependable capacity, resilience, and a clear route to scale. Norway 1 is designed to deliver high-density infrastructure powered by renewable hydropower, with heat reuse enabled by design, supporting both lower-cost operation and a lower operational footprint. "We’re proud that this project will contribute to the local community and bring new, renewable powered capacity to the market." The €300 million (£259 million) development is expected to create around 400 construction jobs during the build phase and contribute additional renewable-powered data centre capacity to Norway's digital infrastructure. Construction is expected to begin later in 2026, with the facility targeted to become operational in the second half of 2027.

Nebius selects Kao Data for UK AI deployment

Dutch AI cloud company Nebius has signed a 10-year agreement with Kao Data, a data centre developer and operator, to deploy 22MW of AI infrastructure at the company's data centre campus in Harlow, Essex. The deployment will support AI cloud services in the UK and forms part of Nebius's wider expansion plans, including a recently announced £1.7 billion investment in UK AI infrastructure. Nebius will host its AI cloud platform and Nebius Token Factory inference service at Kao Data's Harlow campus, which has been designed to support AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. According to the companies, the agreement will provide additional computing capacity for organisations across the UK's research, academic, and enterprise sectors, while supporting the Government's AI Opportunities Action Plan. Spencer Lamb, CEO of Kao Data, says, "Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Kao Data portfolio and a landmark moment in the UK’s AI ambitions. "Nebius is an impressive global AI cloud operator, and we are delighted to welcome such a significant deployment into our Harlow data centre campus. "This partnership proves that despite challenging macroeconomic circumstances, demand for industrial-scale, UK-based, cutting-edge AI remains high, with Kao Data the perfect platform for the latest AI workloads." Expansion of UK AI computing capacity Nebius provides cloud infrastructure designed for AI model training, deployment, and inference. Part of the new capacity at Harlow will support Nebius Token Factory, the company's inference platform for deploying and managing open AI models at scale. Andrey Korolenko, Chief Product and Infrastructure Officer at Nebius, comments, "We’re pleased to be continuing our expansion in the UK with Kao Data. "The UK is a major destination for AI and is becoming an important part of Nebius’s global footprint. By bringing dedicated capacity to support inference workloads, we can enable UK AI builders and enterprises to achieve their AI goals." Kao Data says the Harlow campus is powered by renewable energy and supported by HVO-powered backup generators. Its KLON-03 facility also incorporates direct-to-chip liquid cooling technology designed to support high-density AI infrastructure while reducing water consumption. The company states that the site already hosts a large concentration of AI, academic research, and life sciences computing workloads. It adds that the Nebius deployment is expected to further strengthen Harlow's position as a centre for AI infrastructure in the UK, as demand for GPU-accelerated computing continues to grow. Kao Data is also reportedly progressing planned facilities in Park Royal, West London, and Greater Manchester. For more from Kao Data, click here.

atNorth expands to Norway with new 'mega site'

atNorth, a Nordic high-density data centre provider, has announced its expansion into Norway through the acquisition of land for a new data centre campus in Haugaland. The site will become home to NOR01, a planned data centre designed to support high-density computing workloads and hyperscale deployments. The development marks atNorth's first presence in Norway and extends the company's footprint across all Nordic countries. Located within Haugaland Business Park, the 36-hectare site is expected to deliver 120MW during its initial phases, with capacity ultimately increasing to 350MW. Power availability is projected for 2028 and will be supported by two new substations: one will be developed by Norway's transmission system operator, Statnett, and the second by regional grid provider Fagne. According to atNorth, the company is also exploring opportunities to reuse excess heat generated by the facility in partnership with organisations based within the business park. Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth, says, "Expanding to Norway has been a long-term strategic priority for us, and we’re proud to officially mark our presence across all the Nordic countries with the announcement of NOR01. "Haugaland Business Park is a strong industrial region that offers the ideal combination of renewable energy, excellent connectivity, and a naturally cool climate, making it a highly attractive location for future-focused, AI workloads. "We look forward to collaborating with the local community to deliver world-class digital infrastructure in a responsible way." Haugaland selected for power and connectivity Norway has become an increasingly popular location for large-scale data centre developments due to its renewable energy resources, stable operating environment, and connectivity to European markets. The country's climate also supports more efficient cooling strategies, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems. Monika Lindanger, Mayor of Tysvær Municipality, suggests, "This project will not only bring in new investment and innovation to the region, but will also support our local community through training and employment opportunities, our economy via sustainable industry development, and our circular economy with beneficial heat reuse partnerships. "We’re proud to be part of this next chapter in the Nordic data centre evolution." The announcement follows atNorth's plans for a new large-scale data centre campus in Sollefteå, Sweden, as well as recent expansions at facilities in Iceland and developments in Sweden and Finland. For more from atNorth, click here.

Corscale begins work on 140MW Iver data centre

Hyperscale data centre developer Corscale has appointed UK contractors McLaren Construction and Phoenix ME under a pre-construction services agreement to begin predevelopment works for a 140MW data centre campus in Iver, Buckinghamshire, UK. Located on a 14-acre (4,047m²) site at Court Lane near the M25, the development forms part of the West London data centre market and represents a significant addition to UK digital infrastructure capacity. The project will comprise two data centre buildings and a dedicated 140MVA substation. Designed by Gensler, the scheme includes architectural features intended to complement a nearby Grade II listed farmhouse, alongside measures aimed at supporting biodiversity. McLaren Construction will serve as main contractor, while Phoenix ME will act as MEP delivery partner. Gensler is supported by Cundall on MEP design and L&P Group on engineering services. Julian Michalski, Head of Development for Corscale Europe, says, "This is, by design, an exceptional collaboration of a tier-one team. "It brings a combination of expertise and experience - each with a strong track record in complex, mission-critical environments - to deliver superior quality, programme certainty, and technical assurance at every stage, ensuring we meet programme deadlines and our practical completion date in late 2029." Site clearance and remediation works begin in July Predevelopment activities are scheduled to begin on 1 July 2026 and will include site clearance, enabling works, utility diversions, and environmental remediation. The site is currently occupied by a mix of industrial uses, including vehicle storage, waste transfer operations, recycling facilities, concrete and aggregate storage, and tyre distribution businesses. Among the first phases of work will be the relocation of two 36in (91cm) water mains by Affinity Water and the implementation of a site-wide remediation strategy. David McDonnell, Managing Director for Data Centres at McLaren Construction, notes, "As data centres become larger, more powerful, and more complex, we become all the more reliant on the latest construction technology to achieve the project management and precision that this design requires. "We are proud to be partnering with Corscale and this outstanding project team on what promises to be a landmark scheme, and we look forward to progressing works on site." The project is targeting practical completion during the fourth quarter of 2029. For more from Corscale, click here.

Siemens develops AI data centre reference architecture

German multinational technology company Siemens has worked with NVIDIA and Fluence to develop a reference architecture aligned with NVIDIA DSX Vera Rubin, providing an electrical, power, and controls framework for hyperscalers, colocation providers, and cloud infrastructure operators deploying AI data centres. As AI workloads continue to drive demand for larger-scale infrastructure, platforms such as NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 are increasing requirements for power and cooling. Data centre operators must also address challenges including site selection, grid connectivity, capital expenditure, and deployment times while integrating emerging technologies. The reference design, as a response to this, is based on a 136MW facility with a 100MW IT load. It covers the electrical infrastructure from the utility connection at 34.5kV through medium-voltage distribution, modular low-voltage power blocks, and rack-level interfaces. The architecture is designed to meet Tier III concurrent maintainability requirements, allowing individual components to be taken out of service without affecting IT operations. The modular design also allows capacity to be added in phases, supporting deployments ranging from 10s of megawatts to 100s of megawatts without requiring a complete redesign. The reference architecture incorporates electrical design parameters aligned with nVent and NVIDIA requirements, and a future update is expected to add advanced thermal management guidance. Sara Zawoyski, President of nVent Systems Protection, says, "nVent has deployed more than two gigawatts of liquid cooling capacity globally. That operational experience is what allows us to help partners like Siemens translate reference architectures into deployable thermal solutions that perform reliably from day one at this scale. "Platforms like NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 are pushing rack densities well beyond what traditional air-cooled infrastructure can support." Supporting large-scale AI infrastructure According to Siemens, the architecture is designed to support high-density AI deployments while maintaining compatibility with future IT platforms and changing energy requirements. It also supports NVIDIA DSX MaxLPS and is intended to help operators maximise computing output within fixed power limits. Ruth Gratzke, President of Siemens Smart Infrastructure USA, states, "Siemens’ deep expertise in power systems and controls engineering, modular infrastructure, protection, and industrialised delivery is really evident in this latest joint reference architecture design. "Our pre-engineered, prefabricated, and factory-tested medium- and low-voltage skids help minimise on-site construction complexity, shorten commissioning cycles, and improve quality, safety, and repeatability across deployments. "Further, our automation and digital twin strategies deployed in this reference help ensure that facilities are brought online faster and with greater potential to produce tokens at scale." The design also incorporates battery energy storage technology from Fluence to provide additional operational flexibility and resilience. Jeff Monday, Chief Growth Officer at Fluence, suggests, "Our Smartstack platform is central to this new architecture, transforming the grid into an accelerator for compute. "By providing essential capabilities like voltage and frequency ride through, black start, grid demand response, and AI load smoothing, we are enabling our customers to build the AI factories of the future faster and more reliably." The architecture also includes integration with a centralised data centre management platform, providing visibility across power, cooling, and compute infrastructure through a single management interface. For more from Siemens, click here.

Pure DC launches carbon removal platform

A Healthier Earth (AHE), the climate technology research and development subsidiary of Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), has launched a carbon removal platform designed to increase the availability of biochar-based carbon removal credits for hyperscale operators, enterprises, and institutional buyers. According to AHE, the platform combines carbon removal project development, financing, governance, and verification within a single framework. The company says the initiative is intended to address challenges associated with the fragmented nature of the current carbon removal market. The launch comes as demand for carbon removal projects increases alongside broader corporate decarbonisation targets and continued investment in AI infrastructure. Gary Wojtaszek, Executive Chairman and interim CEO of Pure DC, comments, “What we’re doing at Pure DC is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. "In Dublin, we’ve demonstrated that net zero carbon, self-powered data centres are deliverable. Now, with our Biochar Integrated Carbon Removal from AHE, we’re making them scalable. “This isn’t incremental improvement; it’s a complete reset of how this sector will be built going forwards.” AHE says it is expanding its commercial, scientific, and operational capabilities to support the development of the platform as it moves from individual projects towards a longer-term operating model. Platform combines carbon removal projects and verification According to AHE, the platform combines company-owned production facilities with partner-developed projects, operating under a common governance structure and technical standards. All carbon removal credits generated through the platform will be certified under the Isometric Standard and supported by digital monitoring, reporting, and verification technology from Mangrove Systems. The company says this approach is intended to provide buyers with greater consistency, transparency, and traceability across carbon removal projects. Lukas May, Chief Commercial Officer at Isometric, states, “The data centre sector needs scalable, high-quality carbon removal and the confidence that every credit represents genuine climate impact. We’re looking forward to working with A Healthier Earth to deliver on that mission.” Brandon Vlaar, CEO of Mangrove Systems, adds, “We’re proud to be chosen as AHE’s digital data infrastructure partner, combining automation and AI-enabled tools to ensure every tonne of carbon removed through the platform is measured, accurate, and verified.” Carbon removal linked to data centre decarbonisation plans Pure DC says the platform forms part of its wider decarbonisation strategy and will support discussions with hyperscale customers and other organisations seeking to address residual emissions alongside energy efficiency measures. According to the company, the platform is designed to complement carbon reduction initiatives across its data centre campuses while providing customers with access to independently verified carbon removal projects. AHE says the framework has been developed to provide long-term access to carbon removal credits while maintaining oversight through centralised governance, verification processes, and project monitoring. For more from Pure DC, click here.

VIRTUS installs super-grid transformers at Berlin campus

VIRTUS Data Centres, a UK data centre owner-operator and part of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), has completed the installation of two 185MVA super-grid transformers at its Wustermark campus in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany. According to the company, the transformers are among the largest deployed at a European data centre and represent a key milestone in the development of the site. The Wustermark campus is expected to become the first data centre campus in the Berlin/Brandenburg region to connect directly to a 380kV transmission network. VIRTUS says this will give customers the option of operating without diesel generators while maintaining access to conventional backup generation where required. The transformers form part of the campus's initial 300MW capacity, with power supplied through a dedicated 500MW substation and dual direct connections to the 50Hertz 380kV network. VIRTUS says the integration with the 50Hertz Wustermark substation and the high-voltage transmission connections are designed to provide a resilient and stable power architecture for large-scale data centre operations. High-voltage design targets efficiency and resilience The company says the site has been designed to support both traditional generator-backed operations and a generator-free operating model. As with other VIRTUS facilities, the campus will operate using 100% certified renewable electricity. The site is also located close to regional renewable energy resources, including onshore wind generation. According to VIRTUS, the higher-voltage transformer design provides several operational benefits, including improved electrical efficiency, reduced transmission losses, increased system stability, and enhanced resilience for high-density computing environments. The company adds that the approach may also help reduce system usage charges and long-term energy costs. Mike Golding, SVP of Construction at VIRTUS Data Centres, says, “Delivering the Wustermark Campus has been one of the most ambitious engineering programmes VIRTUS has undertaken to date. “From the 380kV connections to the deployment of these super-grid transformers, every element has been designed to deliver levels of resilience and scalability that have not previously been available in this region. “This campus represents a new generation of infrastructure - one that supports AI-scale growth, reduces reliance on generators, and aligns with the future of renewable energy.” For more from VIRTUS, click here.