Data Centre Projects: Infrastructure Builds, Innovations & Updates

Schneider, DataCentre UK deliver £1.4m modular DC

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology company, in partnership with its EcoXpert Partner DataCentre UK, has delivered a new modular data centre for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT). The £1.4 million project seeks to strengthen the Trust’s digital infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, operational resilience, and capacity to support future healthcare demands. Supporting digital transformation and scalable healthcare infrastructure Facing growing pressure on legacy systems, Innovate Healthcare Services required a modern, scalable, and secure data centre. The new facility incorporates Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Data Centre technology, including APC NetShelter racks, modular cooling units, APC power distribution units (PDUs), and Easy UPS systems. Together, these components should provide greater resiliency and efficiency, while supporting the Trust’s sustainability goals. Paul Almond, MD at DataCentre UK, says, “As an EcoXpert Partner to Schneider Electric, we have integrated Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Data Centre solutions into the design. "These solutions are pre-engineered, configurable, and scalable, encompassing racks, power, cooling, and management systems, aimed at maximising resiliency, sustainability, and efficiency. “Innovate and SWFT trusted our design and our selection of products and approved us to proceed with the build-out.” Improving energy performance and sustainability The upgraded infrastructure has reportedly reduced the Trust’s data centre energy consumption by an estimated 60% compared with its previous setup. Enhanced monitoring and management capabilities allow continuous optimisation of performance and efficiency, in line with SWFT’s Green Plan. “It was all built around sustainability,” notes Mike Conlon, Associate Director of Technology Services at Innovate Healthcare Services. “Conservatively, we are now using 60% less electricity on the same amount of IT load, based on the previous server room implementation, and the system has been designed with an expected annualised PUE of 1.2.” Ongoing operation and maintenance will be provided through a year-round support agreement managed by DataCentre UK and Schneider Electric. Strengthening healthcare resilience through infrastructure partnerships Karlton Gray, Director of Channels, UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric, comments, “With data centres underpinning critical healthcare services, it’s essential that infrastructure delivers the highest levels of reliability, scalability, and sustainability. "Our solutions have helped Innovate significantly improve their environmental footprint, while maintaining exceptional operational performance, and delivered a healthcare environment built for the future.” The project demonstrates how modular and energy-efficient data centre designs can support digital transformation across the healthcare sector, helping organisations meet sustainability targets while maintaining continuity of care. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Vertiv to supply Digital Realty's new Italy campus

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, today announced it will supply infrastructure for ROM1, Digital Realty's first data centre in Italy and which has a planned capacity exceeding 3 MW. The agreement extends the suite of Vertiv systems and existing technology implementations with Digital Realty across European locations, including Paris, Madrid, and Amsterdam. The ROM1 facility will feature advanced cooling and power infrastructure designed specifically for high-performance computing (HPC) environments. The technology implementation includes free-cooling systems that leverage Rome's climate conditions and energy-efficient power management systems designed to support high-density workloads. The ROM1 project The project will be implemented in phases, with the facility planned to begin operations in 2027. ROM1 will serve as a carrier-neutral facility optimised for AI and machine learning workloads. Its strategic location aims to establish Rome as a key digital hub, connecting to major Mediterranean cities through fibre networks and submarine cables. Expansion plans also include connectivity in Barcelona, launching in early 2026. The new facility will support the company’s growth in the Mediterranean, complementing its existing data centres in Marseille, Athens, and Crete. Alessandro Talotta, Managing Director, Italy at Digital Realty, says, "Rome is emerging as a crucial gateway for digital infrastructure between Europe and the Mediterranean. "The cutting-edge technologies selected for ROM1 will help establish it as a strategic AI hub, setting new benchmarks for energy efficiency and performance in high-performance computing." Karsten Winther, President for EMEA at Vertiv, adds, "The growing adoption of AI applications is driving the need for more sophisticated data centre infrastructure. "Our cooling and power solutions are built on decades of experience in supporting the most demanding applications and are designed for projected scalability while helping customers meet their efficiency objectives." Technical details of ROM1 include AI-ready cooling systems that, Vertiv says, adapt to varying workload demands, as well as high-efficiency power distribution designed for intensive computing. The facility incorporates smart environmental controls that respond to real-time conditions and are integrated with alternative energy sources. The two companies say these technological choices reflect their joint focus on supporting advanced computing needs while minimising energy consumption and environmental impact. For more from Vertiv, click here.

Equinix to build new $22m data centre in Lagos, Nigeria

Digital infrastructure company Equinix today announced its intention to open its latest high performance data centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The $22 million (£16.7 million) investment in LG3 marks the first phase of an ambitious investment plan of around $100 million (£75.9 million) aimed at transforming Africa’s digital landscape over the next two years. Set to open in Q1 2026, the site will deliver new infrastructure to Nigeria, empowering local businesses to scale while aiming to draw international companies to the country in this strategically positioned hub for global connectivity. The addition of the new LG3 data centre in Nigeria also brings the incorporation of Network-as-a-Service platform Equinix Fabric into the metro, enabling businesses to connect their physical and virtual infrastructure to other Equinix locations all around the world. Bridging Africa’s digital divide Wole Abu, Managing Director for West Africa at Equinix, comments, “LG3 marks a significant milestone in Equinix’s long-term commitment to bridging Africa’s digital divide. “As Lagos emerges at the crossroads of talent, innovation, and global connectivity, this facility is accelerating access to technologies like cloud, AI, and the next wave of startups." Olawale Owoeye, Managing Director at Cedarview, adds, "Equinix’s Lagos data centre will provide us with the robust and resilient platform our customers demand to expand our digital footprint. "The unparalleled reliability and access to a global ecosystem empower us to deliver high performance solutions to our customers, and the new LG3 data centre in Lagos is [a] key step in ensuring we remain at the forefront of businesses connecting Africa." Nigeria is the second-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Lagos, in particular, is at the epicentre of Africa’s digital transformation, recognised as the only African city in the Global Top 100 Startup Ecosystems. Expansion opportunities Commenting on the opportunity for Equinix in Africa, Aslıhan Güreşcier, Vice President, EMEA Growth & Emerging Markets at Equinix, says, “Africa’s digital transformation is accelerating, driven by a young population, rising internet access, and increasing demand for secure data infrastructure. "With the opening of our newest data centre in Lagos, Equinix is proud to invest in this dynamic region, supporting our customers’ growth with world-class data centres that power everything from banking and education to emergency services and commerce.” Since entering the African market in 2022, Equinix has expanded its presence in key African markets including, Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire). Last year, the company also opened its first data centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. With a footprint spanning over 270 data centres worldwide, Equinix says it is continuing to bring its global expertise and infrastructure to the region, including harnessing Nigeria’s strategic position as an international hub for global subsea cable connections, linking Africa with Europe, Asia, and beyond. For more from Equinix, click here.

HUMAIN, AirTrunk to build DCs in Saudi Arabia

AI company HUMAIN and hyperscale data centre operator AirTrunk have agreed a strategic partnership to develop data centres in Saudi Arabia, including an initial project valued at around $3 billion (£2.2 billion) for a new campus in the country. HUMAIN is headquartered in Saudi Arabia and focuses on artificial intelligence capability development, while AirTrunk operates hyperscale data centre platforms across Asia Pacific. HUMAIN is owned by the Public Investment Fund, and AirTrunk is backed by Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The companies say the partnership is intended to support Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to expand its digital infrastructure and position itself as a regional technology hub. According to the organisations, the joint initiative aims to combine local AI and infrastructure expertise with international hyperscale data centre deployment experience. Industry comments Tareq Amin, Chief Executive Officer of HUMAIN, says, “Together with AirTrunk and Blackstone, HUMAIN is strengthening the technological infrastructure that underpins the Kingdom’s digital economy. "This partnership marks a pivotal moment in creating scalable, secure, and sustainable data centre capacity to support the rapid growth of AI and cloud computing. This initiative not only accelerates Saudi Arabia’s technological advancement, but also establishes a platform for long-term economic diversification and global competitiveness.” Robin Khuda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of AirTrunk, says, “Our strategic partnership with HUMAIN, a key player in the region, will support Saudi Arabia to realise its vision of being a data- and AI-driven economy. "We’re bringing together the whole digital ecosystem, combining HUMAIN’s end-to-end AI capabilities, from infrastructure to models, with AirTrunk’s hyperscale data centre capabilities. This announcement strengthens the AirTrunk data centre platform as we deliver world-class digital infrastructure for the cloud and AI across the Asia Pacific and now the Middle East, which is one of the fastest growing regions in the world.” Stephen A Schwarzman, Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and co-founder of Blackstone, says, “We are thrilled to help power this next era of innovation in the Middle East and enable AirTrunk’s expansion in this important region. "The AI revolution continues to be one of Blackstone’s highest conviction themes, and we bring scale and expertise across the ecosystem as the largest provider of data centres globally and a significant investor in related services and infrastructure." Long-term development and investment focus The partnership is expected to cover the design, construction, financing, and operation of large-scale facilities in Saudi Arabia. HUMAIN says it will lead national efforts to deliver AI-ready infrastructure, while AirTrunk and Blackstone will focus on development and investment. Areas of collaboration include attracting cloud service providers and enterprise customers to the sites. A talent development focus is also planned, with training and capability-building programmes intended to support local workforce growth in the sector. According to the companies, the partnership aligns with the Kingdom’s plans to build a digital economy, expand local skills, and accelerate AI infrastructure deployment. For more from AirTrunk, click here.

Colt DCS to expand West London hyperscale campus

Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS), a global provider of AI, hyperscale, and large enterprise data centres, has announced that it has received committee approval (Resolution to Grant) from Hillingdon Council to expand its Hayes Digital Park campus in West London with three new hyperscale data centres and an Innovation Hub. The £2.5 billion investment will strengthen the UK’s digital infrastructure, support the government’s modern industrial strategy, and help drive the nation’s growing AI economy. The three new hyperscale data centres - London 6, 7, and 8 - will be powered using 100% renewable energy through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Power contracts for this development have been secured with National Grid and a high voltage supply is due to be delivered by October 2027. The expansion will add an additional 97MW to the available IT power at the Hayes Digital Park, taking the total capacity to 160MW. Construction is expected to start in mid-2026, with the first data centre (London 6) scheduled to go live in early 2029. Once operational, the new facilities will create over 500 permanent jobs, training more than 50 technical apprentices over a 10-year build programme. In addition to the data centres, Colt DCS will develop an Innovation Hub in partnership with Brunel University, designed to serve as a community space and incubator for digital start-ups. The hub will promote economic synergy by co-locating light-industrial and digital innovation businesses, creating opportunities for collaboration, research, and skills development within an affordable workspace. Students from Brunel University will be encouraged to use the hub to develop entrepreneurial projects and technology-led ventures to support the digital economy. AECOM has been appointed to develop the design proposals for the Innovation Hub. The facility aims to act as a base for innovation and community engagement, with flexible space for future industrial use, in line with planning policy for Strategic Industrial Land. It will also provide social value by hosting local events themed around culture, food, film, music, and literature. The new development will also deliver a district heating network, using waste heat from the data centres to support local businesses, communities, and residential buildings. Under the planning permission, back-up generators will only be permitted to operate for a maximum of 15 hours per year, with the data centres powered directly from the national grid. “This announcement marks another important milestone for the UK’s digital economy,” says Xavier Matagne, Chief Real Estate Officer at Colt DCS. “Data centres are a cornerstone of digital transformation. With this expansion, we can help power innovation, support the AI revolution, and contribute to the energy transition.” Xavier continues, “Our new campus in Hayes, including the Innovation Hub in partnership with Brunel University, will drive community value, from reusing heat for district heating to creating jobs, skills, and long-term investment. As one of the few operators capable of delivering new capacity in this area of London over the next decade, we’re proud to be helping power the UK’s future economy in a sustainable and inclusive way.” Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth, notes, "Hillingdon is open for business, and we're working closely with our business community, new and existing investors and partners to drive innovation and development in the right places. "The innovation hub is an exciting new development that will help to foster economic growth. It will help to equip residents and smaller local businesses with the right skills, affordable workspaces, and opportunities to thrive. "Hayes is playing a leading role in shaping London's digital economy and infrastructure and it's vital local people have more opportunities to experience the benefits." For more from Colt DCS, click here.

Equinix announces £3.9 billion UK data centre investment

Digital infrastructure company Equinix has acquired an 85-acre site in Hertfordshire, where it plans to develop a large-scale data centre campus. The company says it intends to invest £3.9 billion in the project, which is expected to deliver more than 250 MW of compute capacity. According to Equinix, the campus will support both domestic and international organisations across sectors including healthcare, life sciences, public services, financial services, manufacturing, and entertainment. The development is also referenced by the company as part of broader ambitions around sovereign AI capability in the UK. The site, previously known as DC01UK, is expected to create around 2,500 construction jobs and, once operational, more than 200 permanent roles. KPMG estimates that direct and indirect employment could generate roughly £120 million in wages. KPMG analysis also suggests the project could contribute up to £3 billion in annual Gross Value Added during construction, and up to £260 million once operational, reflecting supply-chain activity and wage spending. DC01UK, commenting on the sale of its site to Equinix, states, "The deal represents one of the largest infrastructure and real estate transactions in the world in recent years. This milestone transaction marks a defining moment for UK digital infrastructure. "With a projected total investment value in the region of £3.9 billion, the deal lays the foundation for one of Europe’s largest and most advanced data centre campuses - a project of unprecedented scale and ambition that will drive the next wave of cloud and AI innovation." Economic and community impact Equinix says it intends to work with local organisations on education, skills, and environmental programmes linked to the development. The company notes it has operated data centres for 27 years and currently runs more than 270 facilities across six continents. In the UK, Equinix supports over 1,300 customers and employs more than 1,200 people. James Tyler, UK Managing Director at Equinix, says, “The UK is a cornerstone of the global economy and is a natural home for our most substantial investment in Europe to date. This development brings a significant amount of data centre capacity to Britain, contributing to the government’s AI growth ambition. "But this investment goes far beyond building the infrastructure needed to unlock the UK’s digital potential; it’s the evolution of an ongoing partnership with the local and national community.” Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, comments, “This £3.9 billion investment is a huge win for Britain. It will give businesses - from life sciences to high street banks - the ability to connect to thousands of other businesses across the world in an instant, powering our AI ambitions, boosting growth and creating hundreds of well-paid jobs. "This is about making sure the UK is at the forefront of the digital revolution and ensuring that every community benefits from the opportunities this new technology brings.” Luisa Cardani, Head of Data Centres at techUK, adds, “This announcement reflects the scale of opportunity the UK has to strengthen its digital foundations. "As highlighted in our Foundations for the Future report, data centres are the backbone of our economy: they enable innovation, productivity, and growth across every sector. "Continued investment in sustainable, resilient digital infrastructure will be critical to delivering on the UK’s ambitions for AI and long-term economic prosperity.” Sustainability measures and site plans The company states that all its sites in Europe, including the UK, are powered by 100% renewable energy, and it is targeting global coverage by 2030. At the Hertfordshire campus, Equinix plans to use dry-cooling technology, to retain more than half the land as open space, and to create ecological habitats to achieve at least a 10% biodiversity net gain. Equinix also says the campus will be designed to enable heat reuse for local benefit in the future. The company’s existing UK presence includes 14 data centres, which support UK-based and global customers, and heat export capability across sites. For more from Equinix, click here.

Data centre spending to quadruple by 2029 across UK

Spending on new data centres across Britain is set to reach an incredible £10 billion per year by 2029, according to new analysis by construction data experts Barbour ABI. That is more than four times as much as the current £1.75 billion being spent per annum. Atop this, the report states that, as investors seek cheaper land costs and cooler climates, the data centre drive will spread north - away from just London - and into Wales. Nearly 100 data centres are currently in planning, with strong growth driven by demand from AI technologies and the internet of things (IoT). The impact of this rapid growth “With exponential growth of this kind, sustainability must be at the forefront of industry strategy if we are to avoid an environmental disaster,” notes Ed Griffiths, Head of Business and Client Analytics at Barbour ABI. “Data centres are now recognised as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). However, given the immense power they consume, operators will come under growing pressure to adopt greener practices. “While many firms are pledging to use 100% renewable energy and implement energy-efficient technologies, there is currently no requirement to report energy usage publicly, so it will be difficult to hold them to account.” As the need for data processing accelerates, the market is forecast to attract over £25 billion in inward investment over the next five years, according to Barbour’s latest data centre construction market report. This surge in capital is reshaping the data centre construction landscape, with a rapid pipeline of new developments already underway. Hyperscale facilities outside of urban areas Growth is being supported by government initiatives such as 'AI Growth Zones', which aim to streamline the planning process and support the delivery of new infrastructure. “The impact of AI is one of the most significant trends shaping the future of the data centre industry,” continues Ed. “As AI technologies become integrated into daily operations, the need for high-performance data centres is becoming critical. "Operators are investing in hyperscale facilities outside of urban areas, designed to manage immense computing workloads.” While London and the Southeast have traditionally dominated the sector, data centre development is now expanding nationwide. Barbour ABI found that regions such as the Northeast, East of England, and Wales are becoming increasingly attractive for new projects. This shift is being driven by greater land availability, lower costs, cooler climates, access to renewable energy, and targeted regional growth policies. The UK’s largest planned data centre project is located at Northumberland Energy Park in Blyth. Backed by US asset management firm Blackstone, the development is expected to be worth £10 billion. Whilst the sector seems ripe for investors looking for big wins in the next few years, Ed does add a note of caution, stating, “While the headline story for data centres is one of growth and innovation, the industry faces real challenges. "Rising energy costs, constraints on supply and land, planning barriers, and a shortage of skilled labour could all affect the pace of expansion.”

Data Centre Congress Global returns in 2026

Data Centre Expo Global is set to return to Olympia London on 4–5 February 2026, bringing together global leaders and innovators from across the digital infrastructure ecosystem to explore the future of green data, intelligent investment, and resilient physical infrastructure. Driving sustainable growth through innovation and investment Under this year’s themes of green investment, digital innovation, and physical infrastructure, the programme will spotlight how operators are redefining the foundations of data centres. Expect deep explorations of decarbonisation strategies, circular and modular design, grid integration, advanced cooling, power systems innovation, and sustainable site planning. Sessions will also examine how digital innovation is reshaping infrastructure, from AI-driven operations, automation, and control systems to next-generation materials, software-defined infrastructure, and data centre architectures that flex with demand and resilience requirements. Hyperscale, edge, and ensuring infrastructure resilience On the day two track, speakers will explore how hyperscale and edge infrastructures must evolve to serve a distributed, latency-sensitive, resilient future. Topics include data sovereignty, resilient connectivity, distributed compute, AI orchestration, fault tolerance, and hybrid edge-cloud architectures. The focus will remain squarely on designing systems that sustain performance under evolving stressors and threats. Hear from leading voices in digital infrastructure Attendees will gain first-hand insight from distinguished industry leaders, including: ● Elena Rehman, EMEA Head for Data Center Land Development, Microsoft● Kenneth Dalton, Operations Director, Global Switch● Vladimir Prodanovic, Principal Product Manager, NVIDIA● Susanna Kass, Data Center Advisor (UNSDG-EP)● Wilfried Dudink, Senior Director, Strategy & Development, Digital Realty● Joe Hurman, Principal Consultant, STL Partners● Steve Hone, CEO and co-founder, DCA (Data Centre Alliance)● Venessa Moffat, Advisory Board Member, DCA These experts will share case studies, forecasts, technical deep dives, and actionable guidance to help decision-makers across data centre and infrastructure industries. A hub for cross-domain collaboration Co-located with Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, IoT Tech Expo, Digital Transformation Week, Cloud Transformation Conference, Edge Computing Expo and the Intelligent Automation Conference, the Expo will offer delegates exposure to the full spectrum of digital infrastructure trends and challenges. This integrated environment aims to foster "serendipitous connections and cross-industry innovation." Nearly 8,000 attendees, 150 exhibitors, and over 200 speakers are expected to convene in London to chart the course of next-generation infrastructure. To be a part of it, you can review the full agenda, explore the speaker list, or register for a free or 'Gold' pass by visiting the event's website.

Start Campus, Nscale to deploy NVIDIA Blackwell in the EU

Start Campus, a designer, builder, and operator of sustainable data centres, in partnership with hyperscaler Nscale, has announced one of the European Union’s first deployments of the NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 platform at its SIN01 data centre in Sines, Portugal. The project supports Microsoft’s AI infrastructure strategy and marks a milestone in the development of advanced, sovereign AI capacity within the EU. Nscale, a European-headquartered AI infrastructure company operating globally, selected Start Campus’s site for its strategic location, readiness, and scalability. The first phase of the deployment is scheduled to go live in early 2026 at the SINES Data Campus. High-density power to support next-generation AI The NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 platform is designed for high-performance AI inference and training workloads, supporting larger and more complex model development. Start Campus says the installation will accommodate rack densities exceeding 130 kW, with power and cooling systems engineered to meet the requirements of ultra-dense AI computing. Portugal’s government has welcomed the investment as a key step in strengthening the country’s position in the European digital economy. Castro Almeida, Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, comments, “This investment in Sines confirms international confidence in Portugal as a destination for innovation and technology. It strengthens our position in the global digital economy and supports high-value job creation.” Miguel Pinto Luz, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, adds, “Start Campus illustrates how digital and infrastructure strategies can align to deliver long-term sustainability. "Sines demonstrates the convergence of the digital transition with Portugal’s geographic advantages - particularly its port, which plays a strategic role in connecting new submarine cables and enabling low-carbon investment.” Recent research by Copenhagen Economics projects that data centre investment could contribute up to €26 billion (£22.6 billion) to Portugal’s GDP by 2030, creating tens of thousands of jobs. Portugal’s location supports strong connectivity through high-capacity subsea cables such as Equiano, 2Africa, and EllaLink, providing low-latency global links. Data from national grid operator Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) shows that renewable energy supplied 71% of Portugal’s electricity consumption in 2024, rising to 81% in early 2025. The country’s energy costs also remain below EU and Euro Area averages. The next steps Robert Dunn, CEO of Start Campus, says, “With SIN01 now at full capacity and expanding to meet demand, we have demonstrated that the SINES Data Campus is ready for ultra-dense, next-generation AI workloads. "Partnering with Nscale and NVIDIA on this deployment highlights Portugal’s role as a leader in sustainable AI infrastructure.” The company is also progressing work on its next facility, the 180 MW SIN02 data centre, which will form part of the same campus. Josh Payne, CEO and founder of Nscale, notes, “AI requires an environment that combines scale, resilience, and sustainability. This deployment demonstrates our ability to deliver advanced infrastructure in the European Union while meeting the technical demands of modern workloads. "Partnering with Start Campus allows us to lay the groundwork for the next generation of AI.” Nscale is expanding its European footprint, including building the UK’s largest AI supercomputer with Microsoft at its Loughton campus and partnering with Aker ASA on Stargate Norway - a joint venture linked to multi-billion-euro agreements with Microsoft. For more from Start Campus, click here.

Rewiring the data centre

In this exclusive article for DCNN, Will Stewart, Global Senior Industry Segment Manager Lead, Smart Infrastructure and Mobility at HARTING, explores how modularity, power density, and sustainability are converging to redefine how facilities are built, cooled, and scaled: Building smarter infrastructure for the AI age Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from hype to headline, impacting everything from health diagnostics to financial analysis. While the public marvels at AI breakthroughs, the engines powering these advances - the world’s data centres - face growing, behind-the-scenes challenges. As organisations expand their AI capabilities, the energy needed to support modern computing infrastructure is rising at an unprecedented rate. Current research projects that global data centre power demand will increase by 50% as soon as 2027 and 165% by 2030, with much of this surge attributed to AI workloads’ explosive growth. Already, data centres account for approximately 2% of worldwide electricity consumption and forecasts suggest this share will continue its upward march. The resulting strain extends beyond server rooms; it is currently reshaping energy supply chains, policy priorities, and environmental strategy across industries. Rising to the infrastructure challenge Serving next-generation, AI-driven applications requires a dramatic rethink of traditional data centre design. Historically, a data centre’s infrastructure balanced a mix of physical and virtual resources - servers, storage, networking, power distribution units, cooling systems, security protocols, and supporting elements like racks and fire suppression - all engineered for reliability and uptime. AI’s energy-hungry, compute-intensive tasks have shattered these historical balances. Data centres today must deliver far more power to denser racks, operate reliably under heavier loads, and deploy new capacity at speeds unimaginable even a decade ago. These requirements are putting immense pressure on every inch of physical infrastructure, from the electrical grid connection to the server cabinet. Navigating power and cooling demands One of the most acute challenges is arising from escalating power and cooling needs. Where historical rack architecture required 16 or 32A, current designs push 70, 100, or even 200A, often in the same amount of physical rack space. These giant increases not only generate more heat, but require thicker, less flexible power cabling, raising new problems for deployment and ongoing maintenance. Efficiently removing heat from ever-denser configurations is a major engineering feat. Next-generation cooling technologies - ranging from liquid cooling to full-system immersion - are becoming essential rather than optional. At the same time, every connection point and cable run becomes a potential source of inefficiency or risk. Operators can no longer afford energy loss, heat generation, or even the downtime that results from outdated power distribution or poorly optimised layouts. The space and scalability constraint AI workloads are increasingly mission-critical. Even short interruptions in data centre uptime can lead to significant financial loss or damaging outages for users and services. With power loads climbing fast and every square foot optimised, the need for trustworthy, quickly serviceable infrastructure grows more urgent. Reliable system operation is now a defining competitive factor for data centre operators. To complicate matters further, capacity needs are accelerating, but available space remains finite. In many regions, the cost and scarcity of real estate forces data centres to pack as much compute and power as possible into smaller footprints. As higher-power architectures proliferate, the infrastructure supporting them - from power to networking - must become more compact and adaptable, maintaining robust operation without sacrificing maintainability or safety. Because new workloads can spike unpredictably, data centre leaders now require infrastructure that can be rapidly scaled up, upgraded, or reconfigured, sometimes within days rather than months. The traditional model of labour-intensive rewiring is proving unsustainable in today’s emerging reality. Sustainability in the spotlight Environmental scrutiny from regulators, investors, and end-users places data centres at the heart of the global decarbonisation agenda. Facilities must now integrate renewable energy, maximise electrical efficiency, and minimise overall carbon footprints while delivering more power each year. But achieving these goals demands holistic change from energy procurement and grid strategy down to every connector, cable, and cooling loop inside the facility. The challenges of the AI era are being met with new ideas at every level of the data centre: smarter building management systems now orchestrate lighting, thermal control, and energy use with unprecedented efficiency; cooling technologies are evolving quickly, as operators push beyond the limits of traditional air-based systems; advanced power distribution and grid connectivity solutions are enabling better load balancing, more reliable energy supply, and easier renewable integration. Within this broad transformation, the move towards modular, plug-and-play connections - sometimes called connectorisation - is having a dramatic impact. Unlike hardwired installations - which are slow to deploy, often hard to scale and maintain, and require specialised labour that is often unavailable - connectorised infrastructure supports pre-assembled, pre-tested units that can be installed in days rather than weeks and by the workforce that is already available on-site. This not only gets new capacity online faster, but also reduces the opportunity for error, simplifies expansions, and supports higher power throughput within constrained spaces. Connectors designed for current and future demands minimise heat and energy loss, enhance reliability, and simplify upgrades. Maintenance is easier and faster, with less need for specialised expertise and less operational downtime. These modular technologies are also helping data centres better optimise their architecture, manage complex workloads, and future-proof their operations. Cooperation and adaptation in a complex landscape Modernising data centre infrastructure is not simply a technical challenge, but one that requires broad collaboration between technology vendors, utilities, cloud providers, regulators, and policymakers. Federal incentives, innovative funding, and public-private partnerships are all working in support of grid modernisation efforts, while the need for flexibility in design and operation allows data centres to adapt to regional differences in energy supply, regulation, and demand. While AI has redefined what is possible, it has also redefined what is required behind the scenes. Data centre infrastructure must evolve rapidly - becoming not only larger, but smarter, faster, and greener. Every connection system and square foot now counts in the race to keep up with exponential demand. For more from HARTING, click here.