Data Centre Projects: Infrastructure Builds, Innovations & Updates

Stellium announces Open Compute Project collaboration

Stellium Datacenters, a colocation operator and provider of data centre infrastructure solutions, has announced a strategic Open Compute Project (OCP) collaboration with Submer, a pioneer in advanced immersion cooling technologies, and ExxonMobil, a global immersion cooling fluid manufacturer. Closely aligned with the OCP’s aim of accelerating data centre innovation and efficiency through the development and sharing of open-source hardware designs, the collaboration between Stellium, Submer and ExxonMobil marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of sustainable and efficient data centre solutions, Stellium tells us. The three companies will jointly focus on several innovative customer-centric OCP solutions initiatives including: • Immersion Cooling Integration: Submer's state-of-the-art immersion cooling technology will be seamlessly integrated into Stellium Datacenters' infrastructure, enhancing energy efficiency and overall performance. This move aligns with the OCP's focus on driving energy-efficient solutions in data centres. • Sustainable Data Centre Design: The joint project will prioritise sustainable practices, reflecting the commitment of both companies to environmental responsibility. By incorporating Submer's immersion cooling technology, Stellium Datacenters aims to reduce its carbon footprint and energy consumption significantly. • Innovative Hardware Solutions: Stellium Datacenters and Submer will collaborate on developing and optimising hardware solutions based on OCP principles. This will contribute to the evolution of open-source hardware designs, fostering a community-driven approach to innovation. • Enhanced Performance and Reliability: Through this collaboration, Stellium Datacenters seeks to enhance the overall performance and reliability of its data centre infrastructure, providing clients with cutting-edge solutions that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital landscape. • High Performance Immersion Cooling Fluid: ExxonMobilTM DC 3235 Super, a cooling fluid validated and endorsed by Submer, is set to demonstrate how its heat transfer capabilities and material compatibility effectively contributes to this advanced immersion cooling solution. “We are thrilled to embark on this collaborative journey with Submer, which is seen as one of the leading forces in immersive cooling solutions,” says Ed Bissell, Sales and Marketing Director at Stellium Datacenters. “Being one of only two OCP data centres in the UK, Stellium is excited to be working with Submer on customer-driven solutions which will leverage our respective expertise to advance the OCP's objectives. This collaboration exemplifies our dedication to providing sustainable and efficient data solutions that align with the industry's best practices. By integrating Submer's immersion cooling technology, we are confident in our ability to set new benchmarks for performance, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility." Oriol Chavanel, Submer Ecosystem Enablement Tech. Lead & OCP Lead, adds, "Collaborating with Stellium Datacenters and ExxonMobil on this Open Compute Project is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation and sustainability. By combining our expertise in immersion cooling with Stellium's cutting-edge data infrastructure, we aim to redefine the standards for data centre efficiency and reliability." Glen Sharkowicz, Global Market Development Manager, adds, “ExxonMobil is proud to collaborate with Stellium Datacenters and Submer on this innovative immersion cooling technology. This collaboration demonstrates our collective commitment to advancing OCP’s objectives and delivering new cooling solutions to the market.” As the project progresses, each company will leverage the expertise of best-of-breed solutions partners and share insights and advancements with the broader tech community, reinforcing their commitment to collaborative and open-source initiatives. For more from Stellium Datacenters, click here.

Full-fibre network enhances operations around the UK’s coastline

A £175 million communications network connecting 163 remote radio sites across 11,000 miles of UK coastline is now operational, ensuring His Majesty’s (HM) Coastguard’s effective frontline emergency response continues for thousands of distress calls from the UK’s waters. Stretching from the Shetland Islands to the Isles of Scilly, it is one of the UK’s largest private broadband networks, with technology partner Telent helping to install 758 miles of new infrastructure. The first installations of the new network, combining full-fibre and microwave technology, began in December 2020, as Telent secured a new 10-year contract earlier in the same year with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to design, build and operate the upgraded network for HM Coastguard. This is part of the MCA’s investment in the Radio Network Infrastructure Replacement Programme (RNIR). “The reliable digital connection and the improved resilience provided by the new network will aid HM Coastguard’s life-saving search and rescue operations for years to come, with Telent on hand to provide its critical expertise,” says Telent CEO, Jo Gretton. “Having first begun working together in 2010, maintaining radio equipment at the remote radio sites and delivering additional support services, Telent and MCA’s relationship has moved from strength to strength.” “The new network provides a firm foundation for the MCA’s potential future and new technology services and projects that only the high performance of a full-fibre network can support,” Jo continues. Lee-on-the-Solent, Crystal Palace, Humber, Bridlington and Brighton Marina were among the first sites switched to the new search and rescue radio network. The remote radio sites cover the whole of the UK coastline, spanning Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England. “The national radio network is integral in supporting our mission of preventing the loss of life on the coast and at sea, enhancing our ability to respond to emergencies across the UK,” says HM Coastguard Assistant Chief Coastguard, Matthew Leat. The upgraded full-fibre connectivity is set to deliver improvements, such as greater bandwidth and security, along with enhanced performance and improved reliability. Now that all 163 remote radio sites have been connected, Telent is providing a fully managed service. As part of this, Telent is monitoring and managing the end-to-end performance, undertaking maintenance activities and implementing technical updates.

SINES data centre partners with Siemens

Start Campus, a company focused on designing, building and operating a new generation of sustainable data centres, has announced a landmark order for transformers from Siemens Energy to power its SIN02-06 buildings - which it says is a key milestone in delivering its 1.2 GW SINES data centre campus in Portugal. This high-demand, long-lead-time equipment - representing over €20m (£16.9m) of investment - will support the construction and fit-out of the second building of SINES DC (SIN02) and underpin its delivery timetable (it's due to be ready for service in 2026). SIN02 will provide its customers with access to up to 180 MW of IT capacity with reliability and redundancy at competitive power prices. This order solidifies the partnership between Siemens Energy and Start Campus, which began with the deployment of market-leading power equipment for SIN01. It also underscores the shared commitment to driving innovation and ensuring the delivery of reliable, sustainable energy solutions in the data centre industry. Rob Dunn, Chief Executive Officer of Start Campus, says, "Placing this order with Siemens Energy highlights our unwavering commitment to meet the growing demands of our customers and deliver on our promises while setting new industry standards. We deeply value Siemens Energy’s support in powering SIN01 and are pleased to strengthen this successful partnership as we advance the campus. Driving the data centre industry forward requires trusted, committed partners like Siemens Energy, and together, we're making it happen." Mark Pilling, Vice President Grid Solutions for Europe and Africa at Siemens Energy, adds, “Data centres power our digital world, and as demand for data and electricity grows, stable access to electricity is crucial. Start Campus’ investment in sustainability is a vital step towards a greener, more connected future. Together with Start Campus, we are committed to advancing the development of critical digital infrastructure that meets the evolving needs of the data centre industry and sets new benchmarks at large scale.” In addition to this significant development for SIN02-06, SIN01 is set to be operational by Q4 2024 with an initial 14 MW of IT capacity. In direct response to the requirements of its customers and, through the use of liquid cooling technologies, its capacity is being expanded to 26 MW. For more from Start Campus, click here.

Gcore raises $60m in Series A funding to drive AI innovation

Gcore, the global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider, has secured $60 million (£46.4m) in Series A funding from institutional and strategic investors. Led by Wargaming, and with participation from Constructor Capital and Han River (HRZ), this marks the company’s first external capital raise since its inception more than 10 years ago. The funds will be strategically invested in Gcore’s technology and platform, including cutting-edge AI servers powered by NVIDIA GPUs, to drive AI-led innovations. Gcore says that the investment underscores its commitment to delivering advanced edge AI solutions that enhance cloud resource efficiency and ensure data sovereignty. Public organisations, telcos, and global corporations entrust Gcore with their edge workloads due to its expansive network, strong presence in emerging markets, and proven cloud capabilities in AI training and inference. Gcore serves customers across diverse industries, including media and entertainment, gaming, technology, financial services, and retail. Built for the edge and addressing a $200 billion-plus market opportunity, Gcore’s cloud infrastructure powers both the training of large language models (LLMs) and the inference of AI applications at the edge. This is enabled by Gcore’s global network of over 180 edge nodes across six continents, including more than 25 cloud locations, with a total network capacity exceeding 200 Tbps. Sean Lee, Chief Corporate Development Officer of Wargaming, comments, "Gcore has been our partner for over 10 years, helping us to deliver games to hundreds of millions of players worldwide. We are excited to support the company on this journey and look forward to helping them become uniquely positioned to lead high-speed AI model training and inference anywhere in the world." Matthias Winter, Managing Partner of Constructor Capital, adds, "Constructor Capital is excited to invest in Gcore, a leading player in the AI IaaS space, in a booming market with CAGRs of over 40%. We believe in Gcore’s unique value proposition as a comprehensive provider offering a wide range of edge solutions, high automation, attractive TCO, extremely low latency, and an experienced management team. We look forward to a successful journey together in the years to come." Christopher Koh, Managing Partner of HRZ, notes, “We are thrilled to invest in Gcore for its forward-thinking approach to global low-latency AI infrastructure and innovative edge AI solutions. We are especially impressed by its leadership in APAC, collaboration with world-class partners, and strategic alignment with emerging AI opportunities in the region.” Lastly, Andre Reitenbach, CEO of Gcore, says, “We are on the cusp of an AI revolution that will transform how companies operate. Gcore is perfectly positioned to connect the world to AI, anywhere and anytime, by delivering innovative AI, cloud, and edge solutions. The growing demand for AI infrastructure from enterprises and SMBs alike highlights the importance of this significant investment. We are thrilled by the support of investors like Wargaming, Constructor Capital, and Han River Partners as we enhance our extensive network of AI servers and reinforce the powerful edge services we offer.” For more from Gcore, click here.

TA Realty and EdgeConneX to develop DC campus in Atlanta

TA Realty, a provider of real estate investment management services, and EdgeConneX, a global provider of data centre solutions, have announced the joint development of a 324MW hyperscale data centre campus in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to acquiring the site, TA Realty, through its dedicated hyperscale development arm TA Digital Group, will manage power procurement and secure all necessary utilities, zoning approvals, permits, and entitlements, addressing the complexities and challenges inherent in these processes. EdgeConneX will bring its comprehensive experience in designing, building and operating data centres. By combining their respective expertise, both companies will aim to ensure the successful delivery of this project with the goal of bringing the site live on time and on budget. This collaborative effort brings together the strengths of each company, in an effort to provide a comprehensive and efficient data centre development process from inception to completion that is optimised for hyperscale customer requirements. TA Realty's extensive background in real estate and its power-first approach to data centres are enhanced by its rich legacy in the Atlanta market, coupled with its broad presence in other Tier 1 markets. Positioned strategically in a key Atlanta sub-market, this location serves as a crucial element in the company's broader plan to develop large-scale data centre complexes in major metropolitan areas. This initiative also highlights TA Digital Group's dedication to sustainable development and proactive community involvement, the company says. Through that dedication, and by harnessing the existing resources and infrastructure of Atlanta, TA Realty aims to not only ensure the enduring value of its assets, but also foster a positive social impact. Leveraging a foundation of innovation, EdgeConneX drives the future of data centres by enabling customers to achieve their vision with customised, build-to-suit data centre solutions on a global scale. Headquartered in Northern Virginia, Singapore, and Amsterdam, EdgeConneX builds infrastructure solutions where, how and when customers need data centre capacity, delivering capacity for content, cloud and AI service providers. With over 80 data centres across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and South America, EdgeConneX delivers hyperlocal to hyperscale to hyperdense data centre solutions globally and sustainably. Construction is set to commence later this year, with the first phase of the data centre campus expected to be operational by 2026. This development supports the growing demands for low latency, high-performance computing driven by advancements in AI, cloud services, and other emerging technologies. As businesses increasingly rely on these technologies, the need for resilient and scalable digital infrastructure continues to rise, making this project an essential component of the region's digital growth.

New Oslo data centre to double as a green urban space

Drawing on the competencies of international engineering consultancy, COWI, the new Skygard data centre is creating highly secure, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly operations in the centre of Oslo. Skygard is owned by Norwegian companies Telenor, Hafslund, HitecVision, and Analysys Mason Nordic, which have decided to invest 2.4 billion Norwegian kroner (£1.7bn) in the project. For Skygard, it's essential to create a data centre that will address national security, data safety, and sustainability, while strengthening Norway's AI position in the process. Thus, the Skygard data centre, which will use renewable energy sources, will reportedly be one of the most energy-efficient data centres in Norway. The excess heat from the plant will be utilised and integrated into the district heating network, and the circular energy design of Skygard could serve as a pilot project for future data centres in Norway. The future of data centre design Skygard contracted engineering consultancy COWI to deliver a complete solution due to the company's broad experience within the design of data centres, sustainable energy, engineering solutions, and architecture. Meanwhile, Norwegian company, A-lab, was responsible for the architectural design of the centre. Located centrally in Hovinbyen in Oslo, Skygard will take an innovative approach by transforming an industrial brownfield area into a green public space for the citizens of the Norwegian capital. The choice of location means the site itself will have minimal impact on existing biodiversity and contribute to urban greening. The location, however, also represents a series of challenges since the site is placed between a city street and a light rail track. Tommy Lundegaard, Business Development Director at COWI, says, "In a time where data centres are facing increased scrutiny due to energy consumption and land use, Skygard is a visionary project that points the way to the future way of creating data centres. At COWI, we are excited to be an integral part of Skygard's project because it allows us to apply our capacities to fulfil the wishes and needs of our client." Moving from an old data centre to a modern one like Skygard can reduce power requirements by between 50-70%. Utilising surplus heat for district heating will also help energy efficiency and bring down the environmental impact of data centres. National security, data safety, and environmental responsibility The Skygard data centre will provide colocation facilities for multiple tenants, and it will be operational in the first half of 2025. Elise Lindeberg, CEO of Skygard, comments, "With the investment in Skygard and other data centres, we will provide Norway with a much-needed data centre capacity that prioritises national security, data safety, and sustainability. The current geopolitical situation has made the need for secure solutions more important, but there is also an urgent need to improve the environmental footprint of data centres. With Skygard, we address all these issues and set a new standard for the future." In addition to the first centre, Skygard has ambitions to build two more data centres in the capital region. Once fully developed, the three data centres are planned to have a combined capacity of 40MW.

Schneider wins data centre award for Loughborough Uni project

Schneider Electric, a leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has received double honours in two categories at the DCS Awards 2024. The first saw Schneider Electric awarded for the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equality and Social Responsibility’ category for its continued commitments to providing equitable opportunities for everyone, everywhere, and ensuring a safe, inclusive working environment. In collaboration with its UK Elite Data Centre Partners, on365 - a specialist in physical IT and data centre infrastructure services, Schneider Electric also won the DCS Award for ‘Data Centre Consolidation/Upgrade Project of the Year’ for the second consecutive year. The award was given for a major modernisation project undertaken at Loughborough University, the world’s leading university for sport-related subjects, and saw Schneider Electric and on365 modernise the university's data centres with new energy efficient and resilient technologies to support new breakthroughs in sporting research. “I’m delighted to accept these awards on behalf of Schneider Electric, which are testament to our ongoing commitments to diversity and inclusion, and our work to address both the sustainability and talent challenges across a host of critical industries”, said Mark Yeeles, Vice President, Secure Power Division, Schneider Electric UK&I. “The data centre sector has become a fourth utility on which all of us depend, and it’s a great honour to be awarded alongside our longstanding partners, on365, for our work together at Loughborough - one of the world’s leading universities.” Data Centre Consolidation / Upgrade Project of the Year In 2023, Schneider Electric and its Elite Data Centre Partners, on365, partnered to deliver a comprehensive modernisation project at Loughborough University, a world-leader in sports related subjects. For the university, IT operations are fundamental to its student experience, providing High Performance Computing (HPC) servers which support analytical research projects, and a highly virtualised data centre environment for critical applications, including finance, administration, and security. To overcome a series of challenges including a redesign and upgrade of its legacy cooling systems, and the need for improved cooling efficiencies, Loughborough worked with the companies to undertake a major modernisation project at its Haslegrave and Holywell Park data centres. Delivered in two phases to avoid the threat of downtime, on365 deployed Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Row Data Centre solution. Further improvements in resilience and efficiency were also achieved by replacing legacy UPSs with new Galaxy VS UPSs’, and DCIM EcoStruxure IT software, providing Loughborough with enhanced levels of visibility and data-driven insights which quickly help it to identify and mitigate potential faults before they become critical. This, in conjunction with a new three-year Schneider Electric services agreement, has provided the university 24/7 access to expert maintenance support, reflecting its ongoing commitment to protecting its IT investments, and ensuring the equipment is fully operational, reliable, and quality maintained. Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equality and Social Responsibility Schneider Electric’s commitments to diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) earned it the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equality and Social Responsibility’ award for the company's continued work to provide offer equal opportunities to everyone everywhere, and its ambition to make employees - no matter who they are, or where in the world they live - feel uniquely valued, and safe to contribute their best. It’s action-driven and strategic DEI efforts are evident through various initiatives, such as doubling the number of opportunities for early-careers and apprenticeships as part of its mission to develop a new generation of talent, while building leadership communities, and implementing inclusive recruitment initiatives, which have been instrumental to its UK operations. Furthermore, active work has taken place to work on building a sense of community and belonging by creating spaces for sharing, exchanging, and fostering connections through its Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), Women's Leadership Cohorts, Military Ambassadors, dedicated initiatives for employees on late stage of their career, and others. Additionally, inclusive policies and flexibility have played a pivotal role in supporting employees on different career and life stages. Ensuring employees are also able to contribute to society showcasing collective impact is represented with Schneider Electric’s Volunteering Day on 12 July 2024 which runs for a second year. Last year, employees from across the UK and Ireland united with a shared purpose: to give back to their communities and make a positive difference in the world with activities like litter picking, gardening, and beach clean-ups, showing dedication to community engagement and sustainability. Schneider Electric’s sustainability efforts also exceeded expectations during the last twelve months, with 112 million tonnes of CO2 saved and avoided in 2023 alone. Great strides were also made in transforming its supply chain, and carbon emissions from Schneider Electric’s top 1,000 suppliers fell by 27%, while 21% of the company’s most strategic supply chain partners met Schneider Electric’s decent work standards. By the end of 2023, 63% of Schneider Electric’s product packaging was free of single-use plastic and made of recycled cardboard. The company’s long-standing commitment to close the energy gap also advanced at pace, with 46.5 million people now accessing clean and reliable electricity around the world. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Schneider Electric helps Sidara build a greener future

Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has revealed that its smart energy management solutions feature in the London headquarters of leading design, engineering, and consulting group, Sidara. Designed by Sidara’s own engineers, 150 Holborn has been created with sustainability and user efficiency at its core. Embedded with innovative smart building technology, the new headquarters will play a key role in supporting Sidara’s ambition to decarbonise its business by 2030, under the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. The building, which officially opened its doors in January 2023, is over 180,000 square feet and caters for over 1,000 employees. It is built on Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IoT platform and uses a sophisticated network of over 650 sensors and controls to collect, analyse, and manage over 60,000 data points. These provide vital information into energy usage, occupancy patterns, and environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity, in near real time. The data and insights from the platform allow Sidara to tailor the environmental conditions within office spaces and meet the specific needs and preferences of occupants. Whether it’s adjusting lighting levels, modifying temperatures or boosting air quality, the system ensures that workspaces are not just habitable but are optimised to promote well-being and productivity. It is also helping the company to reduce energy waste and deliver on the wider sustainability initiatives. “Access to Schneider Electric’s expertise and experience has been vital to understanding how our building’s technology and systems must be designed to enable continuous optimisation and innovation,” says Dan Cope, IT manager at Sidara. “Our vision is to create a best-in-class working environment to optimise energy consumption and enhance comfort levels for both employees and visitors. However, this is just the beginning. Becoming more sustainable is a journey and ongoing engagement with the Schneider Electric team will be key to understanding the building and benchmarking ourselves moving forward.” Kas Mohammed, VP Digital Energy at Schneider Electric UK & Ireland, notes, “With 150 Holborn, Sidara has created a building of the future, today. Every aspect of its smart infrastructure has been meticulously planned and executed to help the company on its journey to net-zero. This new headquarters stands as a beacon of best-practice and Sidara’s efforts to build sustainability into its very foundation is something that others can – and should – look to emulate.” For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

High-performance connectivity for apartments in Finland

More than 500 apartments at a housing complex in Finland can now access fast and affordable broadband thanks to a partnership between InCoax Networks and Finnish network operator, Pohjois-Satakunnan Seutuverkko (PSSV). PSSV deployed InCoax’s MoCA Access 2.5 technology to provide symmetrical gigabit broadband – with the option of reaching multi-gigabit speeds – to tenants living in apartments in Kankaanpää, Finland. By extending its fibre network to each building and reusing the existing coaxial network, previously used for cable-TV, PSSV could provide a fibre-like broadband performance to individual tenants residing in the multi-dwelling unit. “We are delighted to provide tenants at Kankaanpään Asunnonhankinta with affordable broadband that supports their day-to-day activities, including home working and education,” says InCoax’s Business Development Director, Helge Tiainen “PSSV has been able to increase the services delivered with InCoax’s cost-effective and easy to deploy technology, which has also enabled the network operator to introduce more competitive pricing.” The partnership has more than halved the price of TV and broadband services packages for tenants, which now start from €6 (£5.15) per month in comparison to the previous start price of €12.95 (£11.10) per month. The initial take-up rate prior to deployment was only 13% of the complex’s apartments. However, the return on investment (ROI) can be reached within the first year of deployment if 25% of customers sign up for the new broadband offering from PSSV, which will be achieved according to PSSV’s estimates. Located in Kankaanpää, a town and municipality of Finland, the complex consists of 545 apartments. PSSV’s fibre network covers five municipal areas in the Western part of Finland, and it is the only local operator in the region. Jukka Ehto, CEO at PSSV, notes, “Fast and reliable broadband is now a requirement everywhere, and it is vital that tenants’ broadband experience is prioritised. InCoax’s technology and technical support has laid the foundations for us to continue to promote digital inclusion and provide widespread connectivity for homes in Finland.” The technology’s cost-effectiveness and non-intrusive nature enables a proactive deployment process for network operators. It can be deployed even if a limited number of tenants purchase the package of services available. This means that additional apartments in the complex can be quickly and easily integrated onto the network once they sign onto the new broadband package. InCoax’s MoCA Access 2.5 technology offers multi-gigabit speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps and has the potential to provide up to 10 Gbps in the near future.

Quantum Frederick breaks ground on its 600-acre nature reserve

Quantum Loophole, a developer of the first master-planned data centre community, has announced that the company broke ground on its revolutionary 600-acre nature reserve at its Quantum Frederick campus in Frederick, Maryland. The nature reserve will act as a carbon-sink onsite, enabling operation of the first carbon negative industrial-development of its kind. Once complete, the integrated Nature Reserve will have a total of one million plantings. In March 2024, the project kicked off with a demonstration planting in collaboration with University of Maryland (UMD) professors and students, as well as the local community. The trees have been planted in association with Global Tree Initiative (GTI), an organisation focused on advancing global efforts in reforestation. The plantings feature all-native species selected to optimise carbon capture and enhance biodiversity. The Nature Reserve expands on the company’s Bees and Trees initiative with the local Frederick County Beekeepers and students serving as caretakers of hives within the Nature Reserve. Maryland is home to over 400 species of pollinators which are vital for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health. “Working in partnership with the University of Maryland and Frederick County, we made an important promise to prioritise the revitalisation of this site, from its dirty industrial past into a place that demonstrates the potential for modern sustainable industry,” says Scott Noteboom, Co-Founder and CTO at Quantum Loophole. “The nature reserve is a vital differentiator of our master planned data centre communities. By integrating our own human innovations with those of nature herself, we’re able to help industry become part of nature, versus counter to nature. By doing so, we hope to set an example not just for data centre developers, but to help serve as a blueprint for any industrial development in the world.” Master Planning enables Quantum Loophole to achieve its carbon neutral goals through a two-step approach. Firstly, the company enables the reduction of carbon emissions through strategic site selection and paired with diverse high criticality power infrastructure - as well as substantiating renewable primary and backup energy supply chains. Secondly, the company has established the 600-acre nature reserve to capture all carbon emitted onsite operationally. “Breaking ground on the 600-acre Nature Reserve at Quantum Frederick marks a critical step towards a holistic, industrial ecology approach in data centre development,” says Dr. David Tilley, Associate Professor at UMD. “As these centres become integral to our livelihood and social fabric due to global increases in computing needs, the University of Maryland’s Departments of Environmental Science & Technology and Landscape Architecture are eager to advance a partnership with Quantum Loophole. Together, through research on nature-based solutions and demonstration of ecologically engineered designs, we aim to establish the global gold standard for more sustainable data centre practices.” When the nature reserve is complete, it will be open to the public to enjoy scenic walking trails throughout the Quantum Frederick 3.5 square-mile development. The project is part of Maryland’s wildlife corridors network and helps play a pivotal role in preserving our environment’s natural balance. In addition to revitalising the area with native plant species, the Nature Reserve acts as a buffer between human and industrial environments. This buffer ensures the health of the viewscape, soundscape, and the community by using berms, trees, and public trails to create benefits beyond traditional data centre development. Quantum Loophole’s master planned approach sets the stage, beginning with the site selection process, to map out the major land components in advance. The nature reserve is a vital element to master planning, overlaying the environmental benefits aligned with particular site features and needs.