Data Centre Build News & Insights

Global data centre demand surges despite constraints

Artificial intelligence applications are rapidly expanding across industries, and the global data centre industry plays a critical role in AI adoption and advancement. To meet the exponential data centre demand, the sector will grow at a phenomenal pace in 2025. JLL’s 2025 Global Data Center Outlook explores how AI is not only driving demand but the development of more powerful and efficient data centre infrastructure that balances computing power and sustainability. Across the hyperscale and colocation segments, an estimated 10 GW is projected to break ground globally in 2025, while 7 GW will likely reach completion. Based on this current pace of under construction and planned developments, the global data centre market will likely expand at a baseline 15% CAGR through 2027 – with the potential to reach 20%. Rapid expansion brings challenges, including demand outstripping supply and electricity development constraints in some markets. The industry also faces numerous opportunities such as the emergence of new technologies providing novel pathways for sustainability. “The pace of AI innovation is not slowing down, and the data centre industry must continue to adapt,” says Jonathan Kinsey, JLL EMEA Lead and Global Chair, Data Centre Solutions. “AI’s transformative power demands have already reshaped our world, yet its most significant and enduring effect may lie in how we rise to meet the substantial energy demands required to fuel this technological revolution. The results will fundamentally reshape data centre design and operation.” Next-generation AI requirements At the core of the AI revolution is the rapid advancement in semi-conductor technology. Over the past two years, GPUs have become substantially more powerful, leading to higher rack densities ranging from 40 kW to 130 kW per rack, with future chips projected to reach an astounding 250 kW per rack. GPU innovation presents a significant hurdle: managing the heat generated by densely packed, energy-intensive GPUs. The necessity to keep this tech cooled and load variability stable, combined with new power usage effectiveness (PUE) regulations, will shift thermal management strategies toward liquid cooling as the standard for new data centre developments. In the future, immersion cooling will become commonplace as GPUs surge past 150 kW. Most new data centres are being designed to house a combination of both AI and traditional workloads. Though a significant driver, even optimistic adoption scenarios suggest that AI will represent less than 50% of data centre demand in 2030, with traditional, lower-intensity workloads like data storage and cloud-based applications comprising most of the demand. “While not every data centre is or will be a specialised AI facility, all data centres – new and existing – can benefit from more energy efficient operations and improved technology integration,” comments Andrew Green, JLL Regional Data Center Practice Lead, Asia Pacific. “Data centre operators must contend with the demand for massive power needs while satisfying the need for more energy efficient facilities. AI is transforming data centre management through predictive maintenance applications, which optimise energy usage, lead to longer lifespans for equipment and result in less downtime.” Alternative energy solutions Forecasts suggest that global data centre energy demand could double over the next five years. While data centres consume large quantities of power, they are one component of the complex global power challenge. Furthermore, data centres are expected to represent only about 2% of global electricity consumption in 2025. A variety of other factors like increasing EV adoption, machinery electrification and rising power consumption in developing countries also contribute to growing power demand. Since data centres are often clustered together in metropolitan areas, significant bottlenecks in delivering power to new developments persist in some of the largest global data centre markets like Northern Virginia, Tokyo and London. Additionally, these clusters are unevenly distributed across the globe, resulting in some countries and regions where data centres account for a considerable proportion of total electricity demand. “Data centre developers evaluate markets based on the availability of a few key aspects, including power, land, connectivity and tax incentives,” notes Andy Cvengros, JLL Co-Lead US Data Center Markets. “Scarcity is only half of the power story; transmission is the other part. The time it takes to erect transmission lines and substations to connect new data centres to the grid can be up to four years or more in some markets. Both established and emerging markets will see higher development levels in 2025, along with more developers exploring other energy solutions like natural gas and fuel cells.” Being looked at as carbon neutral, large-scale nuclear power is emerging as a preferred alternative to traditional power, particularly for AI and high-performance computing applications. Companies worldwide are developing small modular reactors (SMRs), which, while still in the early stages, could offer a modular and scalable green energy power source at a fraction of the cost of large-scale nuclear. Though commercial deployment in the US is unlikely until 2030 for a variety of reasons detailed in the report, JLL anticipates more SMR announcements this year. Record financing for data centre development Investor appetite for data centres will remain strong through 2025 due to demand for compute power and data storage, low supply due to power scarcity, attractive returns and growing excitement around AI’s potential. JLL anticipates data centre development financing will have another record year in 2025, while global data centre trading volume is likely to moderately increase in 2025. “Data centre activity has exploded over the last few years, with much of the demand geared toward single-tenant ground-up construction,” states Carl Beardsley, US Data Center Leader, JLL Capital Markets. “Significant barriers to entry exist for new investors based on the amount of capital required as well as a longer development cycle. In 2025, we expect many opportunities for core investors to recapitalise the single-tenant data centres that continue to be built.” M&A investment volume and megamergers will likely slow, but JLL expects an increase in joint ventures in 2025, particularly in developing countries as industry firms partner with regional groups to help navigate the local political, regulatory and business landscapes. Despite challenges, including supply constraints and electricity limitations in some markets, the outlook for the data centre sector remains highly favourable, JLL states. It says that the industry is poised for continued growth, driven by AI adoption, increased data processing demands and ongoing technological advancements. JLL’s team of dedicated technical experts are trained and experienced in every phase of the data centre lifecycle to help its customers scale, optimise and maintain efficiencies in their data centre strategies. For more from JLL, click here.

Frankfurt data centre meets EU taxonomy criteria

maincubes, a developer and operator of data centres in Europe, and part of the DTCP portfolio, has announced that its newly constructed FRA02 data centre in Frankfurt aligns with the EU Taxonomy standard. This milestone underscores maincubes’ commitment to stringent environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, and creating long-term value for investors and clients alike. The EU Taxonomy is the classification framework to determine whether an economic activity is considered environmentally sustainable in the context of the European Green Deal. The framework sets rigorous performance standards for projects to ensure substantial contribution to climate goals, such as emissions reduction and energy efficiency. In addition, the alignment approves that a project does no significant harm (DNSH) to other environmental objectives and does not infringe on human rights. Verified by Northshore, a specialist in data centre sustainability assessments, FRA02 meets stringent criteria for energy efficiency and emissions management, bolstering its credibility and minimising risks through validated compliance with the EU Taxonomy‘s sustainability criteria. By adhering to the EU Taxonomy’s high standards, maincubes establishes with FRA02 a benchmark for sustainability and operational excellence in the data centre industry. The data centre’s innovative design and energy-efficient operations serve as a model for the industry under increasing pressure to lower emissions and improve sustainability. “Achieving EU Taxonomy alignment for FRA02 underlines our commitment to sustainability and regulatory excellence. This important milestone contributes to shaping a more sustainable future for the data centre industry, while enhancing trust and transparency for our customers and stakeholders,” says Martin Murphy, Chief Operating Officer at maincubes. For more from maincubes, click here.

KETS Quantum Security reacts to Salt Typhoon cyber attacks

On the back of the Salt Typhoon cyber attacks, Chris Erven, CEO & Co-Founder of KETS Quantum Security, comments on the potential threat of China developing a quantum computer and the danger for telecommunications companies. Chris takes up the story: “This is a fully global threat. Every single telco should be considering their cyber defences in the wake of the Salt Typhoon attacks. “China is making some of the largest investments in quantum computing, pumping in billions of dollars into research and development in the hope of being the first to create a large-scale, cryptographically relevant machine. And although they may be a few years away from being fully operational, we know a quantum computer will be capable of breaking all traditional cyber defences we currently use. So they, and others, are actively harvesting now, to decrypt later. “Telcos are particularly vulnerable since they provide the communication services for major enterprises and many governments, so these organisations should be the first to upgrade to quantum-safe methods, including a defence in depth approach with quantum key distribution and post quantum algorithms. “Adding to the danger, many telcos are moving to software-defined networks which use software-based controllers to manage the underlying network infrastructure rather than dedicated and more restricted hardware devices. This makes them particularly vulnerable because if an adversary gets into the management plane of a telco's SDN, they will have complete control of that network; whereas in the past, the access would have been much more limited. We really are talking about taking down the UK’s national telecommunications network. “Despite warning bells being raised for the last decade, Q Day is rapidly approaching, and telcos have to prepare now to avoid a catastrophic data breach. Thankfully, telcos - like BT and SK Telecom - are actively working to upgrade their systems to make them quantum-safe in the future. However, this transition needs to happen even quicker, and the Salt Typhoon attacks serve as a timely reminder that robust cyber defences are not a ‘nice to have’ - they are essential to protecting our way of living.”

Michigan state continues to support data centre growth

The Green Building Initiative (GBI) has congratulated Michigan leaders on the finalisation of Senate Bill 237 (SB 237) as a Public Act on 30 December 2024. The new law continues Michigan’s commitment to supporting critical data centre growth, while holding data centre projects accountable to community sustainability priorities. As part of its requirements, the law requires sustainable and resilient design, construction, and operation of these facilities through GBI’s Green Globes certification, among others, within three years of operation. “Michigan joins a number of states and cities who are committed to sustainable data centre development, demonstrated by the passing of SB 237,” says Vicki Worden, GBI President & CEO. “Green Globes is ideally suited to educate, evaluate, and improve data centre operations, creating more efficient and resilient mission critical facilities that are positively contributing to communities.” Senate Bill 237 extends the sunset on a use and sales tax exception from 2035 to 2050, or 2065 if the data centre is located on a brownfield site or a location that was used primarily as a power plant for electricity. Data centres may pursue Green Globes New Construction for projects with less than 12 consecutive months of utility data or Green Globes for Existing Buildings for buildings with 12 or more months of utility data for compliance. To date, nearly 16 million square feet of data centres have been certified or are pursuing Green Globes certification in 17 states and Canada. GBI offers personalised guidance and support throughout the assessment process, multiple compliance pathways for a rigorous, not rigid approach, and matches the data centre industry speed to market. In addition to recognition in SB 237, Green Globes certification serves as a compliance pathway in several tax abatement policies throughout the US, including those in Arizona, Washington, and Illinois. Green Globes certification also contributes to an improved GRESB score, a global benchmarking system, in increasing demand by stakeholders. Companies including Aligned Data Centers, Compass Datacenters, CyrusOne, Equinix, Powerhouse, and Vantage Data Centers have achieved Green Globes certification to demonstrate their commitment to and accountability for sustainability. For more from The Green Building Initiative, click here.

Funding to develop next-gen wireless communications systems

Researchers from the UK and Ireland are collaborating on a new project to develop a key technology which will reportedly enable the next generation of wireless communications. Engineers from the University of Glasgow are teaming up with colleagues from the Tyndall National Institute’s Wireless Communications Laboratory (WCL) for the project, called Active intelligent Reconfigurable surfaces for 6G wireless COMmunications (or AR-COM). Together with key industry partners, they will work to improve the design of smart materials called intelligent reconfigurable surfaces (IRS), which are expected to play a key role in the ultrafast 6G wireless networks of the future. Tyndall’s WCL, based at University College Cork, was founded in 2020 by three former scientists from Nokia Bell Labs - Holger Claussen, Lester Ho and Senad Bulja - to boost Tyndall’s research activities in the communications space. AR-COM is supported by £1m in funding from UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in addition to €500,000 (£415,000) from Research Ireland. Over the next three years, the AR-COM partners will develop new materials and methods to help IRS technologies achieve their full potential in the millimetre-wave and terahertz ranges of the communications spectrum. Intelligent reflecting surfaces are capable of intercepting weak wireless signals both indoors and outdoors to actively guide them to devices, boosting the strength of the signal in the process to maximise performance. In the future, as demand for improved indoor wireless signals increases, IRS devices could provide better mobile coverage in buildings with poor reception, enable more reliable high-speed internet connections and support new 6G applications which will require extremely reliable wireless connections. AR-COM will move through four key stages of research and development. In the first stage, the researchers will focus on creating advanced switches engineered from materials called transition metal oxides (TMOs) to enable precise and rapid control over wireless signal strength. The second stage will develop technology to control the direction of wireless signals. The researchers will study how signals move through carefully designed layers of metal and TMO materials, and find new ways for signals to be steered around obstacles in complex indoor environments. In the third stage, the team will develop miniature signal amplifiers built using devices called resonant tunnelling diodes (RTDs), which can boost weakened signals while requiring very low amounts of power to operate. Finally, the team will integrate all their newly-developed elements into a fully-functional IRS system which can effectively manipulate wireless signals with no signal loss and low latency, and maximise signal quality even in the most challenging environments. The project is the latest development in cutting-edge 6G research from the University of Glasgow’s Communications, Sensing and Imaging (CSI) hub. Professor Qammer H. Abbasi, Director of CSI Hub at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, is the AR-COMS’s principal investigator. He comments, "Current materials used in wireless communications face significant limitations, especially at the higher frequencies that 6G networks will require. With AR-COM, we’re building on the expertise of the University of Glasgow and the Tyndall Institute with the support of key industry partners to develop truly next-generation technologies.” Dr Senad Bulja will lead Tyndall National Institute’s contribution to AR-COM. He adds, “Resonant tunnelling diodes, which can amplify signals while using very little power, and transition metal oxides which can act as ultra-fast switches, have a great deal of potential to help overcome the bottlenecks of current generations of IRS technologies. Together, these technologies will help us create surfaces that not only redirect signals but also boost them with minimal energy consumption, which will help them find use in a wide range of devices in the years to come.” Professor Muhammad Imran, Project Co-Investigator and the head of the James Watt School of Engineering, concludes, “Intelligent reconfigurable surfaces will be key to solving the challenges of delivering robust 6G networks and enabling the next generation of wireless applications. Ultrafast, ultra-low latency wireless networks will underpin new forms of communication and sensing that will transform how we interact with each other in the years to come.”

Schneider Electric makes key data centre appointment

Schneider Electric has announced the appointment of Nirupa Chander as Senior Vice President, Secure Power & Data Centres, International Operations. In the role, Nirupa will lead a division of more than 700 professionals, supporting customers and partners in their digital transformation journeys and achieving their sustainability goals in an all-electric world across international zones, including MEA, EAP, Japan, India and South America. “Understanding the complex and nuanced interplay between energy and data will be key to navigating the future of our industry,” says Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President, Secure Power, Data Centres & Global Services, Schneider Electric. “Nirupa’s experience and insight in this area will be invaluable in the ongoing digitalisation of the energy sector and our increasingly digital world.” A veteran of the energy industry, Nirupa has extensive experience in energy grids, micro-grids, and automation, as well as project management, engineering, service and business development. Beginning her career with India’s largest industrial electrical company, Nirupa progressed from project engineering roles through project management, and country manager roles with major engineering firms (such as ABB and Hitachi Energy) in Singapore and Australia before joining Schneider Electric in 2022 as Vice President of Power Systems for the Middle East and Africa. Commenting on her appointment, Nirupa comments, “Early career experiences with controls and automation brought me into IT infrastructure, showing me how energy and data are increasingly intertwined. Working on microgrids highlighted the complexity of balancing the grid with energy storage technology and renewables - insights now applicable to creating sustainable data centres. “It is exciting to see the strong coupling between data and energy, and I am excited about applying my knowledge and skills to this evolving field, especially with the anticipated growth in artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on the industry.” Nirupa holds a degree in Engineering from Gujarat University in Electronics and is a certified project management professional. She is a graduate of leadership programmes from both the Wharton School and INSEAD Executive Education. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Feature - Sustainable data centre cooling

In many data centres, water-cooled chillers are paired with an open or closed-circuit cooling tower for heat rejection. Other options include dry coolers, hybrid fluid coolers and adiabatic fluid coolers. It is beneficial to evaluate all heat rejection options to optimise energy and water consumption. Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC) was approached by a high-performance computing customer with 160MW operating power to provide a more sustainable cooling solution. They had previously used open cooling towers with water-cooled chillers, so BAC worked with the customer to understand its major challenges and needs. The following were identified as critical priorities: - Minimise water usage while balancing energy consumption to support customer sustainability efforts- Provide cooling for an increasing heat load in a smaller footprint- Meet system water temperature requirements without chillers at high loads and varying outside conditions BAC analysed the IT capacity, space requirements, operating power, and location weather data, and then evaluated fully evaporative, hybrid, and adiabatic solutions. Based on the analysis, BAC recommended a chillerless system utilising the HXVTM hybrid cooler. The HXV’s packaged evaporative and dry cooling features offered the water saving and energy efficient solution the customer desired. The factory assembled unit also allowed for easier maintenance and serviceability for the operations team. They were able to easily access the cold-water basin, prime surface coil and drive system due to the crossflow design, large doors, and internal access platforms. Additionally, the customer could perform faster inspections of the spray distribution system while the unit was in operation. The HXV Hybrid Cooler not only addressed all of the customer’s challenges and needs, but it also reduced annual energy costs and improved system efficiency. The HXV Hybrid Cooler helped achieve an estimated power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.136. The HXV incorporates three modes of operation. It has the benefits of evaporative, adiabatic, and dry cooling in a water saving and energy efficient solution. It maintains peak system performance for a variety of applications where water is scarce, water costs are high, uptime is critical, or plume is a concern. Furthermore, it is an ideal solution where space is limited. The HXV hybrid cooler offers the following benefits: - Up to 70% water savings compared to an open cooling tower due to a high dry switch point and more dry operating hours- Year-round 'sensible cooling' with the dry coil to maximise water savings- On average, 25% water savings even on a design day through sensible cooling- Up to 60% lower energy costs compared to air cooled systems due to evaporative cooling and BAC’s innovative combined flow design- Increased operational and layout flexibility with balanced water and energy savings- Highest reliability, and water saver mode eliminates plume abatement- Up to 25% less maintenance than traditional fluid coolers due to dry operation and crossflow design- Up to 70% chemical savings due to dry operation In this installation, the HXV Hybrid Cooler met the customer’s need for a reasonable first cost while significantly reducing both water consumption and operating costs. The HXV heat rejection benefits compared to open cooling towers with water-cooled chillers are: - 71% reduction in annual WUE- 86% reduction in installed peak power- 52% reduction in annual operating cost (energy and water) For more from BAC, click here.

Duos partners with Texas city for data centre development

Duos Technologies Group, through its operating subsidiaries Duos Edge AI and Duos Energy Corp, has announced a partnership with the Pampa Energy Center. This collaboration aims to develop high-density data centre development parks powered by up to 500MW of natural gas self-generation, supplemented by up to 200MW of wind turbine generation and alternative fuel sources for redundancy. This 500+ acre project will transform Pampa Texas’s infrastructure, create jobs, and drive technological and economic growth. The move will also establish Pampa as an epicentre to address the national shortage of High-Density Data Centre (HDDC) capacity. Building on its expertise in deploying adaptive and scalable brick and mortar data centres, Duos Edge AI is streamlining project timelines, optimising operations, and delivering bespoke infrastructure solutions for Pampa to support four 50MW HDDCs. In partnership with Fortress Investment Group, Duos Energy will ensure reliable energy for the HDDCs by providing up to 500MW of natural gas self-generation, bolstered by wind turbine generation and alternative fuel sources for enhanced redundancy. The first 50MW HDDC is planned to be operational by the end of 2025. Duos says that this integrated approach will ensure sustainability and provide resilience to support Pampa's growing technological and economic needs. Doug Recker, President and Founder of Duos Edge AI, says, “The US faces a tough challenge in alleviating the current data centre demand shortfall, as well as building data centres with alternative energy sources. This collaboration helps to accomplish these challenges, as well as defining a new direction for the Texas panhandle and setting up Pampa to be a new technology leader in the High-Density Data Centre landscape. We’re excited to help set Pampa on an innovative path forward and create new jobs and economic development in the region through this collaboration.” Chuck Ferry, CEO of Duos, comments, “Duos Energy Corporation, partnered with Fortress Investment Group, recently signed a definitive agreement to manage 850MW of mobile gas turbines acquired from APR Energy. This strategic partnership with Pampa allows us to begin the deployment of these highly sought-after power generation assets starting in early 2025, and will provide a bridge to a long-term permanent power plant. We are honoured to contribute to Pampa’s economic growth and bright future.” David Dorman, Duos Energy’s Director of Commercial Operations, remarks, “We are looking forward to collaborating with the Pampa Energy Center to deliver mission-critical power to this High-Density Data Centre development. Duos Energy’s turn-key solution will provide rapid-dispatch bridging power, seamlessly transitioning to a permanent facility. We are honoured to contribute to the future economic growth and development of Pampa, Texas.” Glennette Goode, President of the Pampa Energy Center, adds, “The partnership with Duos Edge AI, Duos Energy, and the Pampa Energy Center allows for the transformation of Pampa into a dynamic hub of innovation, enhanced connectivity, and economic strength. Our board has long focused on the need to diversify our commercial and industrial base. Located in the central United States and within the heart of the wind energy sector, we are poised for significant economic growth. This partnership is the first step in a journey to long-term prosperity in Pampa, Texas.” For more from Duos, click here.

Data centre consumption set to double, Finning reports

Finning UK & Ireland, a dealer of Cat machines, engines, equipment, and power products, is urging data centre operators to accelerate the take-up of sustainable backup power solutions in response to projected surge in energy consumption for the sector. According to Deloitte, global data centre electricity consumption is expected to double to 1,065 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2030 – equivalent to 4% of total global energy consumption – driven by power-intensive generative AI applications. The increasing strain on power grids – coupled with the rapid expansion of data centres – highlights the urgent need for reliable, sustainable backup power solutions. “The data centre industry faces unprecedented challenges as we approach 2025,” explains Graham Scandrett, Head of Electric Power Sales at Finning UK & Ireland. “The growth of AI and cloud computing is driving increases in power consumption. And although the sector is making strides towards sustainability, the demand for reliable backup power solutions remains paramount. This creates an urgent need to balance environmental responsibilities with operational resilience. “Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is emerging as a practical solution for data centre operators looking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining the reliability of traditional backup power systems. With whole-lifecycle carbon emissions approximately 70% lower than conventional diesel, HVO offers an immediate pathway to sustainability without compromising on performance or reliability.” Graham continues, “We’re seeing a growing interest from operators to use sustainable fuels during both the testing phase and in operation as an alternative to diesel to achieve incremental reductions in the total carbon intensity of fuels while maintaining optimal backup power performance. The flexibility of HVO as a drop-in replacement, combined with its stability and storage advantages over other alternative low-carbon fuels, positions it as one of several strategic choices for data centre operators. “As the data centre industry continues to expand, operators are increasingly focused on developing robust and sustainable backup power strategies. The next few years will be critical for the data centre industry as it balances rapid growth with environmental responsibilities. Forward-thinking operators are already exploring mixed-fuel strategies and investing in compatible generator systems to future-proof their operations. Success will depend on choosing the right partners and technologies to navigate this transition, particularly as we see the convergence of AI-driven demand growth and increasingly stringent environmental regulations.” Finning supports data centre operators with comprehensive power solutions that enable the transition to more sustainable backup power options while ensuring uninterrupted operations and system reliability. For more from Finning, click here.

Verne unveils plans for data centre campus in Finland

Verne, a provider of sustainably powered HPC data centres across the Nordics, has today announced it has acquired a strategic site in Mäntsälä, Finland, and unveiled plans to build its fifth Nordic data centre. With an initial capacity of 70 MW, the Mäntsälä 10-hectare campus, a 40-minute drive from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, will support services to data intensive enterprises and AI innovators running High Performance Compute (HPC), machine learning, and other high intensity workloads, while operating exclusively on renewable energy. The new facility will be built in line with Verne’s best practice design principles and expertise, which aim to maximise efficiency while helping customers reduce the environmental impact of their data centre operations. In addition, the new campus will be powered by 100% renewable energy sources, while waste heat generated by the data centre will be harnessed to power local community heating projects. “Verne’s Mäntsälä data centre campus represents a significant step in our mission to help global enterprises embrace advanced computing while at the same time reducing their impact on the environment,” says Dominic Ward, CEO, Verne. “This new site is part of our strategy of continuous growth across the Nordic region and marks our first new location following Ardian’s acquisition of Verne.” Dominic continues, “Finland, with its abundant clean energy, established data centre industry, and highly skilled workforce, offers the perfect environment for our latest development. We are also working in close collaboration with the Mäntsälä Municipality to ensure our latest facility benefits the local area. This includes a plan to harness the waste heat from the facility to supply hot water and heating to neighbouring districts.” Mäntsälä's Mayor, Hannu Laurila, adds, "We are very pleased that Verne has chosen Mäntsälä as the location for its new data centre. This investment creates excellent opportunities for the broader development of the entire region. Mäntsälä is seen by companies as a highly attractive place to settle – one reason for this is, of course, the location, but also our basic infrastructure with reliable power grids is very good.” Construction of Verne’s Mäntsälä data centre will commence in mid-2025 and is expected to take two years to complete. This expansion represents a strategic move in the company’s long-term plan to build out its sustainably powered data centre platform, which was acquired by private investment house, Ardian, in early 2024. Ardian is a long-term infrastructure investor committed to the Nordics market, where it has already invested more than €1.6 billion, with a focus on energy transition and digital infrastructure projects. It is working with Verne to drive sustainable growth across the Nordic countries, starting with this expansion plan in Finland. Verne’s data centre platform currently includes three further facilities in Finland – in Helsinki, Pori, and Tampere, together with a substantial campus in Iceland, and a facility in Central London, which is optimised to support latency-sensitive applications. The Mäntsälä expansion marks another milestone in Verne’s mission to deliver sustainable data centre solutions for the rising demands of AI and HPC workloads. For more from Verne, click here.