Data Centre Build News & Insights

FiveNines partners on 20MW Morocco data centre

FiveNines Group, a London-based data centre design, engineering, and construction firm, has partnered with Nexus Core Systems to oversee the development of a 20MW data centre near Casablanca, Morocco, designed for high-density AI computing. The facility will use Nvidia’s Vera Rubin Cloud Partner Reference Architecture. FiveNines has been appointed to lead design management, technical governance, consultant coordination, constructability, and procurement strategy. Gerry Curran, CEO of FiveNines Group, says, “We are delighted to partner with Nexus Core Systems in order to construct an advanced data centre in North Africa. "This project will bring together our international data centre expertise with Moroccan architects, engineers, technical advisers, and relevant authorities. It further demonstrates the capability of FiveNines Group to undertake critical infrastructure projects of the highest standard alongside global industry leaders.” FiveNines will coordinate the early-stage development process, covering briefing, feasibility, design strategy, and concept design. The aim is to prepare a coordinated design package for engagement with the relevant authorities and submission of permit applications. Bastian Remmlinger, Head of Infrastructure at Nexus Core Systems, comments, “We are very pleased with the cooperation and services FiveNines Group has provided so far. "Their team has supported us well as we shape the design and delivery approach for the Morocco data centre. We look forward to continuing our work together on this ambitious project.” The project team will also work with lead design consultant Zutari; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) consultant R&B MEP; and substation delivery partner Fonto Energy. Data centre forms part of wider AI development The 20MW facility will form part of the wider Nexus AI Factory Platform, which is being developed by Nexus Core Systems and its international partners. The platform has a target capacity of 180MW and is intended to run entirely on renewable energy. The Nexus AI Factory was announced in April 2026 at GITEX Africa Morocco in Marrakesh, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Moroccan authorities. The project forms part of Morocco’s plans to establish itself as a regional centre for artificial intelligence. FiveNines Group, meanwhile, operates across several international markets, including northern and central Europe. The UK-headquartered company recently announced the completion of a 9.6MW data centre in Austria for a hyperscale client.

Navitas, Microchip develop 800V reference design

Navitas Semiconductor, a US maker of gallium nitride and silicon carbide power chips for AI data centres, and semiconductor manufacturer Microchip Technology have collaborated on an 800V DC-to-6V DC reference design for AI data centre rack power applications. As AI data centres scale to support high-power GPU clusters, the industry is moving towards 800V DC rack power architectures to improve distribution efficiency, increase power density, and support higher-power server designs. The reference design combines Microchip’s digital power control and security technologies with Navitas’s gallium nitride (GaN) power devices. The companies say it provides developers with a route to implementing power conversion aligned with the Open Compute Project (OCP) 800V DC standard. The reference platform includes hardware, software, and design documentation intended to support the development of 800V DC power conversion systems. Joe Thomsen, Corporate Vice President of Microchip's Digital Signal Controller Business Unit, says, "AI infrastructure optimisation is driving one of the most significant power architecture transitions the data centre industry has experienced in decades. "As the ecosystem moves towards higher-voltage rack power systems, developers need proven building blocks that help reduce design risk and accelerate innovation. "Our collaboration with Navitas brings together complementary technologies to help customers navigate this transition and bring next-generation power solutions to market more quickly." Direct 800V-to-6V conversion The reference platform uses Microchip’s digital signal controllers and hardware security technology alongside Navitas’s GaN power devices. The primary side uses 16 GaN FETs in a stacked half-bridge topology. The dual-side-cooled package is designed to reduce thermal resistance, supporting higher continuous power operation. The power delivery board targets peak efficiency of up to 96% at full load, with a switching frequency of 1MHz and a power density of 2,100W/in³. The low-profile design is intended to enable close integration with GPU boards, supporting transient performance and power distribution efficiency. The design uses direct conversion from 800V DC to 6V DC, combining the 800V DC-to-50V DC and 50V DC-to-6V DC conversion stages into a single converter. The reference design also incorporates Microchip’s hardware-based security technology to support authentication and protection within power infrastructure. The technology supports functions including secure boot, Message Authentication Code generation, trusted firmware updates, key management protocols including Transport Layer Security (TLS), and other root-of-trust operations. It will be showcased at Microchip’s OCP Event in San Jose, California, USA, from 12–15 October 2026, and a reference board, software, and supporting documentation will also be provided to help developers evaluate 800V DC power conversion systems for AI data centre applications.

atNorth to develop 230MW data centre in Finland

atNorth, a Nordic high-density data centre provider, has announced plans to develop a new data centre in Salo, Finland, with 75MW of power secured for the first phase and a potential capacity of up to 230MW across the wider site. The FIN05 data centre will be developed on a 28.6-hectare site, which will connect through a Fingrid substation. atNorth says Salo offers access to connectivity, resilience, and Finland’s digital talent pool, as well as proximity to Helsinki. The company expects to invest approximately €2 billion (£1.6 billion) in the site, excluding customer-owned servers and their installation, which could represent a further investment of up to €10 billion (£8.4 billion). atNorth plans to enter into long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with local energy suppliers, alongside flexibility measures intended to support the operation of Fingrid’s transmission grid. It will also work with local stakeholders to explore opportunities to reuse heat generated by the data centre. Supporting local energy and economic development The project builds on atNorth’s existing heat reuse collaborations with Kesko Corporation in Finland, Stockholm Exergi in Sweden, and Vestforbrænding and Selected Group in Denmark. Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth, says, “FIN05 is an opportunity to develop critical digital infrastructure while working with the region to create lasting local value. “We are exploring how local energy partnerships, flexibility solutions, and heat reuse can contribute to the wider energy system and community. We look forward to working with Salo and regional partners as the project develops.” Salo Mayor Anna-Kristiina Korhonen has suggested the development would create employment opportunities during construction and ongoing operations, whilst also generating wider economic benefits for local businesses. Matti-Juho Ervasti, Partner at Regant Oy, has noted that the project demonstrates Salo’s potential for major digital infrastructure investment, adding that the site has the scale, planning readiness, and power roadmap required for large data centre projects. FIN05 is part of atNorth’s wider Nordic investment programme, alongside developments in Stockholm and Sollefteå in Sweden, Haugaland in Norway, Ølgod in Denmark, and Kouvola in Finland. For more from atNorth, click here.

GreenScale publishes data centre grid design guidance

GreenScale, a developer of hyperscale data centre campuses, has published open-source design requirements to help data centre operators adapt mechanical and electrical (M&E) infrastructure to variable AI loads and evolving grid codes. The document, Grid & AI Load Compatibility: System Design Requirements for AI Load, Grid Code & Fault Ride-Through, was developed with contributions from vendors, partners, and independent experts. It outlines considerations for managing variable AI power demand, meeting grid connection requirements, complying with fault ride-through rules, supporting demand response, and adapting to future changes in grid codes and tenant load profiles. GreenScale says the guidance is intended to give operators a practical starting point for developing their own designs, reducing duplicated work and helping the industry progress towards compliance. Fault ride-through requirements are emerging as data centres become more significant participants in the electricity system, where grid stability is a shared objective. However, grid codes vary by region and continue to evolve, leaving no widely adopted common specification for data centre power systems to be designed and tested against. Liam Newcombe, SVP Product, Energy Strategy and Innovation at GreenScale, notes, “The deployment of AI requires data centres to move from being simple customers of the electricity grid to participants in the grid. "Data centres as a class are now large enough to impact grid stability, which means facilities need to adapt, incorporating capabilities such as fault ride-through to ensure this impact is positive, resulting in a resilient, stable grid. "The task is no longer simply to protect the IT equipment from the grid, but to meet the combined requirements of the IT equipment, data centre infrastructure, and electricity grid. “This document is published as a work in progress. It provides an initial approach that we hope others in the industry will test, challenge, and improve. By publishing it open-source, we hope to provide a useful starting point for others, sharing our learnings both direct and from our contributors.” Addressing evolving grid requirements The guidance promotes a base system design that accounts for foreseeable operating conditions, including load- and site-specific constraints that affect design, equipment selection, and specification. Examples include specifying uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems with fault ride-through capabilities and mechanical equipment able to operate across required voltage and frequency ranges. Liam says adaptability was a central principle, as AI load profiles, grid codes, and flexibility requirements continue to develop. The guidance aims to help project teams make proportionate decisions now and reduce the risk of costly equipment changes later. GreenScale suggests that modelling, technical data, and design knowledge developed through early projects could also be transferable to future data centre developments. The document is released under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) licence, allowing companies and individuals to use and build upon it under the licence terms. GreenScale is inviting data centre operators, designers, engineering consultants, utilities, technology providers, and independent experts to review and reuse the document, as well as to contribute to further industry discussion. For more from GreenScale, click here.

Using data centre waste heat with aquatherm piping systems

Data centres generate large amounts of waste heat as servers and cooling systems operate around the clock. Instead of discharging this heat into the environment, it can be captured and used as an energy source for nearby buildings or heating networks. To make this technically and economically viable, a reliable piping infrastructure is required to transport the thermal energy from the data centre to heat pumps, heat exchangers, and external consumers with low losses. aquatherm offers suitable solutions for this task: aquatherm blue for the internal data centre circuits, connecting servers, cooling equipment, and heat exchangers, and aquatherm energy, a pre-insulated PP piping system designed for underground distribution (for example, to local or district heating networks). Both systems are corrosion-free, durable, and designed for closed-loop operation, supporting the long-term use of data centre waste heat as a local energy resource. More details are available at Using Waste Heat from Data Centres: Turning Digital Heat into Community Warmth. For more from aquatherm, click here.

A-Gas at Chillventa: Discover the LRM journey for data centres

A-Gas is a company specialising in the lifecycle management of refrigerants, which is increasingly relevant as the industry looks to reduce its carbon emissions and move away from high global warming potential (GWP) gases. For over 30 years, A-Gas has supported clients and partners, including those in the data centre sector, on their environmental journey as an enabler of lifecycle refrigerant management (LRM) and circularity in the industry, with world-class processes for the safe recovery, reclamation, and destruction of used refrigerants. This LRM circular approach is the opposite of the 'take, make, and dispose' model that has dominated the refrigerant industry for decades. By recovering used refrigerant gases and reclaiming them to AHRI 700 standards, A-Gas makes better use of existing resources and reduces the need for virgin production. Re-supplying these products to the market helps the wider heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industries embrace circular economy principles. Where no future reuse is possible, A-Gas uses United Nations-approved destruction technology to eliminate the gases in a safe and environmentally responsible way. During the three days of Chillventa, A-Gas will take visitors on a journey through the different phases of Lifecycle Refrigerant Management (LRM). A-Gas will highlight how each phase impacts the refrigerant lifecycle and demonstrate how its products and services support customers at every stage. • Recovery — featuring globally renowned services such as Rapid Recovery and Rapid Exchange• Supply — showcasing its expertise in multiple refrigerants, including low and ultra-low GWP refrigerants, as well as the new blends• Reclaim — highlighting world-class reclamation capabilities that restore refrigerants to AHRI 700 standards for re-supply Why Rapid Recovery is important for data centres For data centre operators, Rapid Recovery is a key part of this approach. The sector has specific requirements in terms of speed and efficiency, which A-Gas is able to address promptly, keeping server downtime to a minimum. In this context, one aspect that is often underestimated is the logistical complexity involved in challenging environments such as hyperscale data centres and edge infrastructure. In these cases, decommissioning or retrofit operations may involve large quantities of refrigerant and require rapid intervention to minimise disruption to operations, which could otherwise result in significant inconvenience and substantial financial losses. Rapid Recovery is a high-speed, on-site refrigerant recovery programme delivered by highly specialised technicians using purpose-built proprietary technologies, lorries equipped with 120-metre flexible recovery hoses and other company assets, including 1,000-litre drums and high-performance vacuum pumps. The service removes refrigerant at speeds of up to 10 times those of traditional recovery processes, while operating in full compliance with local and international regulations. It also includes comprehensive support with all required documentation. The service can be adapted to applications of any size and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A-Gas meets visitors at Chillventa Discover A-Gas solutions and more by visiting A-Gas in Hall 1 - Booth 1-332. The team looks forward to welcoming you and guiding you through the LRM journey. For more from A-Gas, click here.

Datum progresses Farnborough data centre build

Alex Baker, Labour MP for Aldershot, has toured UK data centre provider Datum Datacentres' Cody Technology Park campus to see progress on FRN2, the company's second Farnborough data centre. The steel frame is now complete, with construction having moved to the roof. FRN2 is targeted to become operational in 2027, adding 22,000ft² (2044m²) of technical space and supporting up to 30kW per rack. The project is being delivered at Cody Technology Park, which Datum describes as one of the UK's most secure technology campuses. The development is expected to create skilled jobs during construction and operation. Alex Baker MP comments, “This is a hugely significant project for Farnborough which will help to provide the digital services that businesses in our area need to grow. "Datum’s business creates skilled jobs and valuable training opportunities for local people - directly and indirectly - while showing how investment in our digital infrastructure can support a more sustainable future. I look forward to returning when the new data centre opens its doors.” FRN2 construction reaches roof stage Mark Richards, Chief Financial Officer at Datum Datacentres, notes, “There aren't many places in the UK where you could build a facility like FRN2, and we're fortunate that one of them is our home. "The frame is up, the roof is underway, and, by 2027, this building will be supporting organisations across the country. It matters to us that our MP took the time to see the work while it's happening, because construction is the part of a data centre's life the public never usually sees.” The development follows construction of a similarly specified facility at Datum's northern campus in Manchester. Launched in June 2025, MCR2 is providing data centre capacity for the North West's digital economy. For more from Datum Datacentres, click here.

Sustainable Data Center Summit arrives in Dubai

The Sustainable Data Center Summit is a focused industry platform bringing together data centre operators, developers, infrastructure specialists, technology providers, consultants, government stakeholders, and other key decision-makers to examine the evolving requirements of sustainable digital infrastructure. As demand for cloud services, AI, high-performance computing, and digital connectivity continues to accelerate, data centres are facing increasing pressure to expand capacity whilst managing energy consumption, cooling requirements, power resilience, water use, and environmental impact. The summit provides a platform to address these challenges and explore practical approaches to developing more efficient, resilient, and sustainable facilities. The summit will explore key areas including energy efficiency and optimisation, advanced cooling and thermal management, resilient power infrastructure, renewable energy integration, sustainable data centre design and operations, water efficiency, carbon reduction, AI-ready infrastructure, and high-density computing. Through expert presentations, panel discussions, and industry networking, the event will bring together professionals from across the data centre ecosystem to exchange knowledge, examine emerging technologies, and discuss the strategies required to support the industry's next phase of growth. Taking place on 13 October 2026 at Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, the Sustainable Data Center Summit will provide a dedicated platform for meaningful conversations around how the industry can meet rising digital demand whilst moving towards more efficient, resilient, and sustainable data centre infrastructure.

Australia could cut AI emissions through data centres

Australia could reduce global AI emissions by hosting more data centre infrastructure and using renewable energy to power computing, according to a study by economics research and advisory firm Mandala Partners (commissioned by Australian industry body Data Centres Australia). The report argues that Australia could capture AI demand that might otherwise be hosted in Southeast Asia, where more carbon-intensive energy generation is used. Hosting a 1.9GW AI compute export opportunity in Australia could produce an estimated 3.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, compared with 11.9 million tonnes if the same capacity were hosted in Indonesia. Mandala says Australia is well positioned to become a regional hub for lower-emission AI compute, effectively exporting renewable energy through computing services rather than physical electricity infrastructure. Data centres could deliver economic benefits Capturing the AI export market could generate up to $4.1 billion (£3 billion) in additional annual economic activity, support up to 17,120 jobs, and drive up to $52 billion (£38.5 billion) in new investment. Mandala Partner Tom McMahon says, “We know Australia is capable of producing abundant clean energy, but the challenge is how to export that energy to the world. "Exporting clean energy via compute takes advantage of existing subsea cables that are responsible for carrying data and internet traffic in and out of Australia.” Belinda Dennett, Chief Executive Officer of Data Centres Australia, also notes that investment in digital infrastructure could strengthen Australia's role in the energy transition while supporting economic growth and sovereign capability. The report forecasts that Australia's data centre industry could generate $5.6 billion (£4.1 billion) in annual economic activity and support 23,040 ongoing jobs by 2030, with construction activity contributing a further $19.8 billion (£14.6 billion) and 18,930 jobs. The full report is available to view via Data Centres Australia's website.

T5 Services creates EverOn data centre business

T5 Services has announced changes to its construction and operations businesses, with T5 Construction becoming EverOn Data Center Services (EverOn DCS), while T5 Operations is set to join Salute. Effective from 1 September, EverOn DCS will operate as an independent data centre construction company focused on mission-critical digital infrastructure. At the same time, T5 Operations has entered into a definitive agreement to join Salute, bringing the two organisations' operations businesses together. EverOn DCS has grown from $87 million (£64 million) in revenue in 2021 to $1.7 billion (£1.2 billion) in 2025, with 83% of its 2025 revenue coming from third-party construction projects. The business was originally established within T5 Data Centers and now works with hyperscale, developer, enterprise, and AI customers across North America. According to T5 Services, establishing EverOn DCS as an independent company will allow it to focus on its third-party construction activities as demand for data centre capacity increases. The company has completed more than 260 construction projects, delivering more than 12 million square feet (1.1 million square metres) of data centre space across the United States. Its activities include ground-up campus construction, data hall fit-outs, retrofits and upgrades, design-build delivery, LLE equipment procurement, commissioning oversight, QA/QC, owner advisement, and preconstruction services. EverOn also has experience with direct liquid cooling, high-density AI infrastructure, and construction in live, energised mission-critical environments. T5 Operations to join Salute Salute has announced an agreement to acquire T5 Operations, which will bring the operations teams together and aims to give customers access to a broader range of technical resources and geographic coverage, according to the companies. EverOn and Salute will continue to work together as strategic partners, with the companies stating that collaboration between construction and operations will support operational readiness and long-term facility performance. Pete Marin, CEO and Chairman of T5 Data Centers, comments, "This is a strategic evolution that strengthens both businesses. Our construction business has grown significantly beyond its original mandate, earning the trust of third-party developers and hyperscalers, and establishing EverOn gives [the] organisation the independence and focus to continue scaling. "At the same time, bringing our T5 Operations team together with Salute creates an even stronger platform dedicated to helping customers maximise uptime and operational excellence. We’re incredibly proud of what both teams have built and excited about what comes next.”