Data Centre Build News & Insights

atNorth's ICE03 wins award for environmental design

atNorth, an Icelandic operator of sustainable Nordic data centres, has received the Environmental Impact Award at the Data Center Dynamics Awards for its expansion of the ICE03 data centre in Akureyri, Iceland. The category recognises projects that demonstrate clear reductions in the environmental impact of data centre operations. The expansion was noted for its design approach, which combines environmental considerations with social and economic benefits. ICE03 operates in a naturally cool climate and uses renewable energy to support direct liquid cooling. The site was constructed with sustainable materials, including Glulam and Icelandic rockwool, and was planned with regard for the surrounding landscape. Heat-reuse partnership and local benefits atNorth says all its new sites are built to accommodate heat reuse equipment. For ICE03, the company partnered with the local municipality to distribute waste heat to community projects, including a greenhouse where school children learn about ecological cultivation and sustainable food production. The initiative reduces the data centre’s carbon footprint, supports locally grown produce, and contributes to a regional circular economy. ICE03 operates with a PUE below 1.2, compared with a global average of 1.56. During the first phase of ICE03’s development, more than 90% of the workforce was recruited locally, and the company says it intends to continue hiring within the area as far as possible. atNorth also states it supports educational and community initiatives through volunteer activity and financial contributions. Examples include donating mechatronics equipment to the Vocational College of Akureyri and supporting local sports, events, and search and rescue services. The ICE03 site has also enabled a new point of presence (PoP) in the region, established by telecommunications company Farice. The PoP provides direct routing to mainland Europe via submarine cables, improving network resilience for northern Iceland. Ásthildur Sturludóttir, the Mayor of Akureyri, estimates that atNorth’s total investment in the town will reach around €109 million (£95.7 million), with long-term investment expected to rise to approximately €200 million (£175.6 million). This, combined with the wider economic and social contribution of the site, is positioned as a model for future data centre development. Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth, comments, “We are delighted that our ICE03 data centre has been recognised for its positive impact on its local environment. "There is a critical need for a transformation in the approach to digital infrastructure development to ensure the scalability and longevity of the industry. Data centre operators must take a holistic approach to become long-term, valued partners of thriving communities.” For more from atNorth, click here.

Sabey's Manhattan facility becomes AI inference hub

Sabey Data Centers, a data centre developer, owner, and operator, has said that its New York City facility at 375 Pearl Street is becoming a hub for organisations running advanced AI inference workloads. The facility, known as SDC Manhattan, offers dense connectivity, scalable power, and flexible cooling infrastructure designed to host latency-sensitive, high-throughput systems. As enterprises move from training to deployment, inference infrastructure has become critical for delivering real-time AI applications across industries. Tim Mirick, President of Sabey Data Centers, says, "The future of AI isn't just about training; it's about delivering intelligence at scale. Our Manhattan facility places that capability at the edge of one of the world's largest and most connected markets. "That's an enormous advantage for inference models powering everything from financial services to media to healthcare." Location and infrastructure Located within walking distance of Wall Street and major carrier hotels, SDC Manhattan is among the few colocation providers in Manhattan with available power. The facility has nearly one megawatt of turnkey power available and seven megawatts of utility power across two powered shell spaces. The site provides access to numerous network providers as well as low-latency connectivity to major cloud on-ramps and enterprises across the Northeast. Sabey says it offers organisations the ability to deploy inference clusters close to their users, reducing response times and enabling real-time decision-making. The facility's liquid-cooling-ready infrastructure supports hybrid cooling configurations to accommodate GPUs and custom accelerators. For more from Sabey Data Centers, click here.

De-risking data centre construction

In this article for DCNN, Straightline Consulting’s Craig Eadie discusses how the rapid rise of hyperscale and AI-driven data centres is amplifying project complexity and risk, as well as why comprehensive commissioning from day one is now critical. Craig highlights how long-lead equipment delays, tightening grid constraints, and beginning commissioning before quality control can derail builds, stressing the need for commissioning teams to actively manage supply chains, verify equipment readiness, and address power availability early: How can comprehensive commissioning de-risk data centre construction? Data centres are the backbone of the global economy. As more businesses and governments depend on digital infrastructure, demand for hyperscale and megascale facilities is surging. With that growth comes greater risk. Project timelines are tighter, systems more complex, and the cost of failure has never been higher. From small enterprise facilities to multi-megawatt hyperscale builds, it’s critical that commissioning teams control and mitigate risk throughout the process. It’s rarely one big crisis that causes a data centre project to fail. More often, it’s a chain of small missteps - from quality control and documentation to equipment delivery or communication - that compound into disaster. Taking a comprehensive approach to commissioning from day one to handover can significantly de-risk the process. Managing upwards (in the supply chain) It wasn’t long ago that a 600 kW project was considered large. Now, the industry routinely delivers facilities of 25, 40, or even 60 MW. Both sites and the delivery process are getting more complex as well, with advanced systems, increasing digitisation, and external pressures on manufacturers and their supply chains. However, the core challenges remain the same; it’s just the consequences that have become far more serious. Long-lead equipment like generators or switchgear can have wait times of 35 to 50 weeks. Clients often procure equipment a year in advance, but that doesn’t guarantee it will arrive on time. There’s no use expecting delivery on 1 July if the manufacturer is still waiting on critical components. Commissioning teams can de-risk this process by actively managing the equipment supply chain. Factory visits to check part inventories and verify assembly schedules can ensure that if a generator is going to be late, everyone knows early enough to re-sequence commissioning activities and keep the project moving. The critical path may shift, but the project doesn’t grind to a halt. Managing the supply chain on behalf of the customer is an increasingly important part of commissioning complex, high-stakes facilities like data centres. Luckily, a lot of companies are realising that spending a little up front is better than paying a few hundred thousand dollars every week when the project is late. Securing power More and more clients are facing grid limitations. As AI applications grow, so too do power demands, and the utilities often can’t keep pace. A data centre without power is just an expensive warehouse, which is why some clients are turning to behind-the-meter solutions like near-site wind farms or rooftop solar to secure their timelines, while bigger players are negotiating preferential rates and access with utilities. This approach is meeting with increasingly stern regulatory pushback in a lot of markets, however. You can have a perfectly coordinated build, but if the grid can’t deliver power on time, it’s game over. Power availability needs to be considered as early as possible in the process and sometimes you have to get creative about solving these challenges. Commissioning without quality control is just firefighting One of the most common mistakes we see is starting commissioning before quality control is complete. This turns commissioning into a fault-finding exercise instead of a validation process. The intended role of commissioning is to confirm that systems have been installed correctly and work as designed. If things aren’t ready, commissioning becomes firefighting, and that’s where schedules slip. Data centres are not forgiving environments. You can’t simply shut down a hyperscale AI facility to fix an oversight after it’s gone live. There is no “more or less right” in commissioning. It’s either right or it isn’t. Technology-driven transparency and communication One of the biggest improvements we’ve seen in recent years is through better project visibility. By using cutting edge platforms like Facility Grid, commissioning teams have a complete cradle-to-grave record of every asset in a facility. If a switchboard is built in a factory in Germany and installed in a project in France, it’s tracked from manufacturing to installation. Every test, every piece of documentation is uploaded. If a server gets plugged into a switchboard, the platform knows who did it, when they did it, what comments were made, with a photographic backup of every step. It means that commissioning, construction, and design teams can collaborate across disciplines with full transparency. Tags and process gates ensure that no stage is marked complete until all required documentation and quality checks are in place. That traceability removes ambiguity. It helps keep everyone accountable and on the same page, even on the most complex projects when adjustments are an essential part of reducing the risk of delays and disruption. The biggest differences between a project that fails and one that succeeds are communication and clear organisational strategies. Precise processes, reliable documentation, early engagement, and constant communication - everyone on the project team needs to be pulling in the same direction, whether they’re a part of the design, construction, or commissioning and handover processes. This isn’t just about checking boxes and handing over a building; commissioning is about de-risking the whole process so that you can deliver a complex, interconnected, multi-million pound facility that works, that’s safe, and that will stay operational long after servers spin up and the clients move in. In the past, the commissioning agent was typically seen as a necessary evil. Now, in the data centre sector and other high-stakes, mission critical industries, commissioning is a huge mitigator of risk and an enabler of success.

Portable data centre to heat Scandinavian towns

Power Mining, a Baltics-based personal Bitcoin mining device manufacturer, has developed a portable data centre that will heat towns using residual heat from Bitcoin mining. The first two data centres, housed in shipping containers, will be shipped to a Scandinavian town, where they will be connected to the municipal heating system. In one year, one Power Mining data centre can reportedly mine up to 9.7 Bitcoin and heat up to 2000 homes. With 1.6 MW/h in power, the data centre achieves 95% energy efficiency, thereby providing the municipality with 1.52 MW/h. A portable data centre design The data centres are built in Latvia, at a cost starting from €300,000 (£262,000). Due to being put together in a shipping container, they are easily shipped around the world. The data centre is made up of eight server closets, each outfitted with 20 Whatsminer M63S++ servers that consume 10kW of electricity each and create an equivalent amount of heat. The servers can raise the incoming coolant temperature by 10-14°C, producing the equivalent amount of heat while mining Bitcoin. Each server closet is equipped with warm and cool fluid collectors which send the warmed liquid to a built-in heat pump station, where a 1.7 MW heat exchanger ensures the redistribution of heat from the data centre to the town’s heating grid. If the heating grid does not require additional heat from the data centre, the heated fluid is redirected to a built-in dry cooler, which adjusts the temperature to suit the needs of the servers. This way, the data centre is able to cool itself and also contribute to balancing the municipality’s heating grid. Steps towards increased energy efficiency The development of a passive heating data centre is one step towards increased energy efficiency in Bitcoin mining. While classical data centres can collect heat at approximately 27°C, Power Mining says its data centres can collect heat up to 65°C, providing cities with more efficient sources of heat. European data centres already make up more than 3% of the continent’s total electricity consumption, which is expected to surpass 150 TW/h annually - an equivalent of all of Poland’s electricity demands. Up to 40% of this energy is turned into heat, which most often is released into the atmosphere. If this energy were collected and redirected back to heating, it could provide up to 10 million European households with heat. Heat collection from data centres could become one of the most effective ways to combine digitalisation and climate goals.

Macquarie tops out $350M, 47MW AI data centre

The New South Wales Treasurer, Hon. Daniel Mookhey MP, today poured the final concrete on Macquarie Data Centres’ newest 47 megawatt (MW) facility, IC3 Super West. The ceremony marks the completion of the building’s external structure and a major milestone toward its scheduled opening in September 2026. IC3 Super West will be the only data centre to add new AI capacity to Sydney’s north zone in 2026, Macquarie states. With all the end-state power already secured, the facility is being purpose-built to meet the growing demands from hyperscalers, enterprise and neoclouds for GPU and high-performance computing capacity in the Tier 1 hub. The facility is part of Macquarie Data Centres’ 200MW development pipeline adding more AI and cloud capacity to the market. NSW Treasurer, Hon. Daniel Mookhey MP, says, “Companies like Macquarie Data Centres keep investing, keep expanding, and keep believing that NSW can be a global home for high-tech infrastructure. And it happens because the government has chosen to take planning and investment delivery seriously. “In the years ahead, thousands of businesses will run smarter because this building exists. Research will accelerate because this building exists. AI capability will expand because this building exists. And NSW will be more competitive – globally competitive – because this building exists.” Sydney is seeking to cement its position as a leading hub for AI, cloud and digital innovation, supported by new initiatives such as the NSW Government’s new Investment Delivery Authority - which aims to accelerate future technology infrastructure projects like Macquarie Data Centres’ recently announced 150MW planned site. Macquarie Data Centres Group Executive, David Hirst, comments, “IC3 Super West is the next data centre in our pipeline of sites planned to add circa 200MW of AI and cloud capacity in Sydney. Demand for high-density AI infrastructure is the most significant megatrend we’ve seen in over 25 years in the data centre industry. IC3 Super West, opening in Q3 2026, is purpose-built for the high-density power and liquid cooling demands of new AI technology. Sovereign data centres keep Australia competitive in the global market and are the foundation of our AI future.” IC3 Super West is the third facility to be built at the leading provider’s 65MW Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus in Sydney’s north zone and is designed to support a hybrid mix of air and liquid cooling for direct-to-chip, high-density AI and cloud workloads. Phase 1 of the build is a circa $350 million investment and will deliver the complete core and shell with 6MW IT load fitted out. For more from Macquarie, click here.

AECOM appointed to deliver data centre in Spain

AECOM, a global infrastructure specialist, today announced it has been selected by Nostrum Data Centers (an affiliate of Nostrum Group) to lead the design and construction management of a new data centre in Badajoz, Spain. With an investment exceeding €1.9 billion, ‘Nostrum Evergreen’ is reportedly one of Spain’s most ambitious digital infrastructures projects, with capacity expected to reach 500 megawatts, supporting the rapid growth of AI across Europe. The first phase includes the design and construction of data halls and the critical operational infrastructure, with an initial capacity of 150 million watts of electric capacity (MWe). The second phase, which will allow the site to reach 300 MWe, is scheduled to begin in early 2029. The complex’s design will enable scalability up to 500 MWe, making it one of the most ambitious facilities in southern Europe. A ‘next-generation’ campus, Nostrum Evergreen will also integrate advanced cooling systems and intelligent power consumption management. "This data centre in Badajoz will have a total capacity similar to the combined capacity of all current operational data centres in Spain,” says Gabriel Nebreda, CEO of Nostrum Group. “Furthermore, we have set ourselves a very demanding deadline to start construction of this mega campus next year. Achieving this ambition is only possible through strategic partnerships with leading global players in the data centre sector. We are very pleased to announce this agreement with AECOM, one of the most prestigious engineering firms, who have extensive experience in AI gigafactories worldwide." "We are delighted to collaborate with Nostrum Group on this project, which will become an international benchmark in data centres,” adds Javier Camy, Managing Director, Spain, AECOM. “At AECOM, we leverage our global capability in highly complex technical projects and our strong position in the sector to apply a transformative approach that ensures a sustainable, forward-thinking solution. This partnership reflects our ability to co-lead initiatives that redefine regions and enhance the global competitiveness of our clients." “This is very positive news for the city and for the region as a whole. It represents a decisive opportunity for the development of Badajoz and highlights the dedication and strong commitment to our city, something we deeply value and appreciate,” notes Ignacio Gragera, Mayor of Badajoz. The project, which expects to obtain its building permit by mid-2026, has already secured electrical capacity, without relying on the future Spanish Electrical Grid Development Plan 2025–2030. In addition, it boasts more than 200,000 square metres of ready-to-build industrial land in one of the region’s most advanced industrial parks. The site aims to position the Extremadura region as an emerging hub in the European data centre ecosystem. For more from AECOM, click here.

atNorth's DEN01 to supply district heating in Copenhagen

atNorth, an Icelandic operator of sustainable Nordic data centres, has agreed a partnership with Vestforbrænding, Denmark’s largest waste-to-energy company, to supply excess heat from its forthcoming DEN01 data centre campus into the district heating network serving Greater Copenhagen. DEN01, a 22.5MW site in Ballerup, is scheduled to open in early 2026. Through the collaboration, warm water generated as a by-product of direct liquid cooling will be transferred into Vestforbrænding’s network from 2028. The recovered heat is expected to support the heating of more than 8,000 homes, reducing energy consumption for local central heating and lowering emissions for both organisations. Denmark has pursued decarbonisation for several years and has set a national target to become net zero by 2045, with a 110% emissions reduction target by 2050. Coal is being phased out of the district heating sector, and heat-reuse projects form part of the country’s circular economy strategy. atNorth highlights that the initiative aligns with its wider approach to sustainable construction, energy efficiency, and community-focused development. Vestforbrænding is expanding its network as part of its 2030 District Heating Plan, replacing oil and gas boilers across thousands of households and integrating new heat sources such as surplus heat from data centres. Heat-reuse initiatives across the Nordics Steen Neuchs Vedel, CEO of Vestforbrænding, says, “For many years, we have talked about surplus heat from data centres being part of the future. Now, the future is here. “With today’s contract signing, we are showing the way forward for how surplus heat from data centres can reach people’s homes. There has also been talk about sector coupling in the district heating sector: today, we demonstrate how this can happen in practice, to the benefit of consumers.” Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO at atNorth, adds, “As the demand for AI-ready digital infrastructure continues to increase, it is imperative that data centre companies scale in a responsible way. “By actively seeking heat-reuse partnerships for our data centres, we can mitigate our environmental impact, benefit the communities in which we operate, and help clients decarbonise their IT workloads.” The announcement follows atNorth’s partnership with Wa3rm, which plans to use waste heat from the company’s DEN02 site to support local vegetable production. atNorth has also agreed a heat-reuse initiative with Kesko Corporation to supply recovered heat from its FIN02 site to a neighbouring store. For more from atNorth, click here.

Subzero Engineering opens new Vietnam facility

Subzero Engineering, a provider of data centre containment systems, has expanded its global operations with a new facility in Ho Chi Minh City, strengthening its position in the Asia-Pacific market and supporting growing regional demand for data centre infrastructure. The site will act as a central hub for APAC activities, reinforcing the company’s long-term presence in the region and improving proximity to partners and supply chains. Midge Pan, General Manager, APAC, Subzero Engineering, comments, “This expansion is about more than infrastructure; it’s about proximity to our partners, agility in the supply chain, and speed to market. “Vietnam offers a unique combination of talent, resilience, and strategic location that enables us to meet APAC’s growing demand for cutting-edge digital infrastructure.” 'Centre of excellence' for design and manufacturing The Ho Chi Minh City facility will serve as a "centre of excellence" supporting global engineering teams. It will accommodate manufacturing, design, and research and development functions, and will produce Subzero’s containment systems, modular enclosures, aisle frames, and airflow management equipment. Dedicated research and development space will also support the creation of technologies tailored to APAC’s fast-changing data centre market, including approaches aimed at AI, high-density computing, and sustainability. Shane Kilfoil, President of Subzero Engineering, explains, “This new facility is a strategic cornerstone in Subzero’s global vision, designed to integrate localised innovation with global scale. “By establishing a centre of excellence in Vietnam, we’re not just expanding our footprint; we’re embedding agility, resilience, and sustainability into the core of our operations.” The company expects the site to create more than 50 skilled roles across engineering and technical disciplines. Subzero also plans to form partnerships with local universities and technical institutions to support training and internship programmes. The facility has been developed within a building designed with sustainability features, including on-site solar generation, energy-efficient systems, and low-carbon construction methods. Subzero says these measures reflect its wider environmental commitments and its focus on reducing operational impact. With established operations across North America and Europe, the addition of the Vietnam site aims to strengthen the company’s global network. It also allows Subzero to offer more responsive support to regional customers as demand for new data centre capacity increases. For more from Subzero Engineering, click here.

Pure DC secures approval for Madrid data centre

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a digital infrastructure organisation, has received final planning approval for the first phase of its €400 million Madrid data centre development, including a private substation. The campus has a planned capacity of 70MW, with Phase 1 comprising a substation and a 30MW facility. The project is expected to support digital demand across the region and strengthen local energy resilience. More than 400 construction roles will be created, with an emphasis on employing local firms. Once operational, the site will provide more than 50 permanent technical and support positions and contribute to improvements in nearby power and telecommunications infrastructure. Work is expected to begin this month, with early activity focused on connecting high-voltage lines from the Iberdrola power substation and constructing the new private substation. Substation and modular data hall development The private substation will use environmentally focused gas-insulated switchgear from Siemens. This equipment replaces traditional insulating gases with alternatives that avoid greenhouse gas emissions and toxic by-products. Pure DC notes that the site will be among the first in Spain to use this type of switchgear. The company anticipates completing the substation by early 2027, followed by phased construction of modular data halls. These halls will support high-density deployments and can be configured for either air or liquid cooling. Both cooling approaches use closed-loop systems with zero operational water consumption. Pedro L. Sanz, Mayor of Meco Municipality, comments, “This licence approval highlights the constructive dialogue and collaboration between Pure DC and our City Council. "The project not only reinforces our city's position as a technology hub, but marks a mutual achievement that will boost employment and the digital future of our region.” Dame Dawn Childs, CEO at Pure Data Centres, notes, “Like many major European cities, Madrid’s demand for digital infrastructure far out-strips the supply coming online. “Pure DC’s ability to bring on new low-latency, high-quality capacity in such supply constrained locations demonstrates our capability to deliver compelling partnerships for local authorities, potential customers, and our supply chain.” Pure DC also plans to work with nearby communities, mirroring programmes in place at its other sites. These include partnerships with schools and universities, training and careers initiatives, community outreach, and collaborations with local organisations on environmental projects. For more from Pure DC, click here.

InfraPartners, JLL partner to accelerate AI DC delivery

InfraPartners, a designer and builder of prefabricated AI data centres, and JLL, a global commercial real estate and investment management company, have formed a strategic agreement to accelerate the development and operation of AI data centres. The partnership brings together InfraPartners’ prefabricated AI data centre designs and JLL’s capabilities in site selection, project management, construction oversight, financial structuring, and facilities management. The companies state that the combined model is intended to address persistent challenges in data centre development, particularly the period between site identification and operational readiness. As investment in AI infrastructure grows, operators increasingly require deployment models that offer predictable schedules, reduced risk, and scalable designs suitable for GPU-heavy environments. Data centre construction continues to face risks associated with labour shortages, schedule delays, and complex financing. InfraPartners and JLL say they aim to manage these issues jointly by integrating design, prefabrication, delivery, and long-term operations into a single framework. Prefabrication and integrated delivery for AI infrastructure “Our clients are asking for faster, lower-risk routes to delivering AI infrastructure,” says Michalis Grigoratos, CEO at InfraPartners. “Our prefabricated, upgradeable digital infrastructure integrates seamlessly with JLL’s expertise across the full project lifecycle, so, together, we’re focused on providing a superior product that keeps pace with AI infrastructure changes and market growth. "Our globally scalable, repeatable approach includes site selection, prefabrication, and long-term operations, reducing time-to-first-token and maximising performance across the lifecycle.” Matt Landek, JLL Division President, Data Centers and Critical Environments, adds, “AI infrastructure demands a new approach - one that’s as dynamic and high-performing as the workloads it supports. “With InfraPartners, we are delivering a unique blueprint that brings real estate, engineering, and operational precision into a unified model.” Kristen Vosmaer, Managing Director at JLL, oversees global programme management, including JLL White Space and facilities management solutions, and supports delivery of the partnership. He comments, “This is one of the first collaborations to fully integrate data centre design, manufacturing, construction, commissioning, computer deployment, and lifecycle management for institutional-grade real estate delivery, marking a significant shift in shortening the time to monetisation for how mission-critical infrastructure assets are developed and maintained.” The companies plan to offer end-to-end capabilities intended to accelerate the delivery of AI-ready facilities for enterprise, government, and cloud operators. Initial deployment efforts will focus on high-growth AI markets in EMEA and the United States from Q1 2026, with plans to expand into additional regions. For more from InfraPartners, click here.