Data Centre Business News and Industry Trends

atNorth expands to Norway with new 'mega site'

atNorth, a Nordic high-density data centre provider, has announced its expansion into Norway through the acquisition of land for a new data centre campus in Haugaland. The site will become home to NOR01, a planned data centre designed to support high-density computing workloads and hyperscale deployments. The development marks atNorth's first presence in Norway and extends the company's footprint across all Nordic countries. Located within Haugaland Business Park, the 36-hectare site is expected to deliver 120MW during its initial phases, with capacity ultimately increasing to 350MW. Power availability is projected for 2028 and will be supported by two new substations: one will be developed by Norway's transmission system operator, Statnett, and the second by regional grid provider Fagne. According to atNorth, the company is also exploring opportunities to reuse excess heat generated by the facility in partnership with organisations based within the business park. Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth, says, "Expanding to Norway has been a long-term strategic priority for us, and we’re proud to officially mark our presence across all the Nordic countries with the announcement of NOR01. "Haugaland Business Park is a strong industrial region that offers the ideal combination of renewable energy, excellent connectivity, and a naturally cool climate, making it a highly attractive location for future-focused, AI workloads. "We look forward to collaborating with the local community to deliver world-class digital infrastructure in a responsible way." Haugaland selected for power and connectivity Norway has become an increasingly popular location for large-scale data centre developments due to its renewable energy resources, stable operating environment, and connectivity to European markets. The country's climate also supports more efficient cooling strategies, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems. Monika Lindanger, Mayor of Tysvær Municipality, suggests, "This project will not only bring in new investment and innovation to the region, but will also support our local community through training and employment opportunities, our economy via sustainable industry development, and our circular economy with beneficial heat reuse partnerships. "We’re proud to be part of this next chapter in the Nordic data centre evolution." The announcement follows atNorth's plans for a new large-scale data centre campus in Sollefteå, Sweden, as well as recent expansions at facilities in Iceland and developments in Sweden and Finland. For more from atNorth, click here.

Bergen Engines signs 750MW data centre deal

Bergen Engines, a Norwegian manufacturer of medium-speed gas and dual-fuel engines, has signed an agreement with Crusoe to provide up to 750MW of power generation capacity for AI data centre developments in the United States. The agreement comprises a 438MW contract and a further 310MW letter of intent, supporting Crusoe's expanding portfolio of AI infrastructure projects. Crusoe develops large-scale AI data centre campuses using a combination of grid power, natural gas generation, renewable energy, and battery storage. The company deploys both grid-connected and behind-the-meter power infrastructure to support the high energy demands of AI workloads. John Adams, Senior Vice President of Power at Crusoe, says, "The pace of AI infrastructure development demands builders who treat power as a first-class AI infrastructure layer. "Bergen’s gensets give us the reliable baseload power we need to energise large-scale campuses, deployable on our timeline. We’re building AI factories at record speed, and this agreement helps us maintain that pace." Under the initial contract, Bergen Engines will supply 27 gas-powered generating sets rated at 12.5MWe and 20 units rated at 5MWe. Additional units are included within the letter of intent, with deliveries planned across multiple US locations through 2027. On-site generation supports growing AI power demand The generators are intended to provide continuous baseload power for AI data centres operating around the clock. The systems will incorporate alternators from Marelli Motori and dynamic power stabilisation technology from Piller Power Systems. According to the companies, the technology is designed to manage rapid fluctuations in electricity demand associated with computing-intensive workloads. Dean Richards, CEO of Piller Power Systems, says, "AI workloads have a distinct power profile that demands purpose-built generation and stabilisation technology. "SHIELD-X is designed to manage those dynamics, protecting the generation assets and maintaining stable plant operation while ensuring consistent power quality for the data centre." As AI infrastructure capacity expands, developers are increasingly turning to on-site and behind-the-meter power generation where grid connections are unavailable or unable to support required capacity within project timescales. Theo Lorentzos, Vice President of Sales for Bergen Engines Americas, notes, "The pace of AI infrastructure development is unlike anything the power generation industry has seen before. "In this market, access to power determines how fast you can scale. Crusoe’s model is built around speed and stable power, and our solution is designed to deliver both." The agreement forms part of a wider trend towards dedicated power infrastructure for AI data centres, enabling developers to accelerate deployments while reducing reliance on traditional utility connection timelines. For more from Bergen Engines, click here.

Kao Data appoints new CEO

Kao Data, a data centre developer and operator, has appointed Spencer Lamb as Chief Executive Officer as the company continues expanding its AI-focused data centre platform across the UK. Spencer Lamb, who joined Kao Data in January 2020, previously served as Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer. He will now oversee day-to-day operations and growth strategy alongside founder and Executive Chairman David Bloom. According to the company, Spencer will focus on the development of Kao Data’s AI-ready data centre capacity and support the continued growth of its UK facilities. David Bloom will remain Executive Chairman, concentrating on long-term strategy, financing, partnerships, and engagement with government around AI infrastructure and energy development. During his time at Kao Data, Spencer has led the company’s commercial strategy and supported the expansion of its portfolio across Harlow, Slough, Northolt, Park Royal, Greater Manchester, and additional sites under development. The company says he has also played a key role in developing the Harlow campus as a location for high-performance computing, AI workloads, scientific research, and life sciences computing. A leadership change to support AI infrastructure growth Kao Data says the leadership structure is intended to support the company’s next phase of growth as demand for AI and high-density computing infrastructure increases. Spencer comments, “I have loved my time at Kao Data, and I am excited to step up and lead the company as its CEO. “I am looking forward to ensuring Kao Data continues to play a strong and defining role in the UK’s AI infrastructure story, and that we keep delivering for our customers, our people, and the communities we operate in.” David Bloom, Executive Chairman at Kao Data, adds, “Spencer’s appointment formalises what has been an increasingly natural evolution in how we lead this business. “As CEO, Spencer will drive Kao Data’s operations and day-to-day growth strategy, while I remain directly focused on the strategic priorities that will shape our next chapter: major financing, capital partnerships, M&A, and our ongoing engagement with government on the UK’s AI infrastructure agenda.” Spencer Lamb’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer is effective immediately. For more from Kao Data, click here.

Pure DC secures $2.7bn AI data centre funding

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has secured $2.7 billion (£2 billion) in financing to support the expansion of its AI and hyperscale data centre infrastructure across Europe and the Middle East. The financing package includes a $2.15 billion (£1.5 billion) facility secured against the company’s campuses in Dublin and Amsterdam, alongside an increase in its corporate financing facility to $550 million (£408 million). The expanded financing structure includes support from financial institutions including SMBC, ABN AMRO, and Allianz Global Investors. According to Pure DC, the $2.15 billion (£1.5 billion) facility was syndicated within three months and will support continued development at its Dublin and Amsterdam sites. Construction is currently underway at the Amsterdam campus, which is fully leased. The company notes its Dublin campus recently became Europe’s first carbon net zero data centre microgrid. Located in the Ballycoolin area, the campus is designed to provide up to 150MW of IT capacity, with 54MW currently permitted. Expansion plans across FLAP-D and the Middle East Pure DC says the increase in its corporate financing facility will support investment in new FLAP-D sites and AI-focused data centre campuses across the region. The company states that the funding structure is intended to provide greater flexibility when securing sites and progressing future developments. The business is also targeting further expansion in the Middle East, which it identifies as a growth market for AI and hyperscale infrastructure over the coming decade. Gary Wojtaszek, Executive Chairman and interim CEO of Pure DC, comments, “Pure DC is rapidly positioning itself at the centre of Europe and the Middle East’s AI transformation, leveraging one of the region’s fastest-growing FLAP-D hyperscale platforms to deliver the next generation of AI inferencing infrastructure. “The support we’re seeing from leading global financial institutions reflects that. This funding demonstrates strong market confidence in Pure’s leadership team and strategy.” Mike Schwartz, Chief Financial Officer at Pure DC, adds, “Over the past 12 months, we have materially strengthened and diversified our financing platform, bringing in high-quality institutional partners and increasing available capital. “The successful syndication of the $2.15 billion facility and the expansion of our corporate facility demonstrate both the depth of market demand and the confidence lenders have in our assets, structure, and strategy. “Importantly, the combination of asset-level and corporate-level financing gives us the flexibility to accelerate investment across the business and act decisively as new opportunities arise.” For more from Pure DC, click here.

Bergen secures 500+ MW of orders from Liberty Energy

Bergen Engines, a Norwegian manufacturer of medium-speed gas and dual-fuel engines, has secured an order from Liberty Energy for more than 500MW of onsite power generation capacity to support AI data centre developments in the United States. The projects will use gas-powered generation systems capable of operating both independently from the grid and in parallel with utility infrastructure, supporting high-density AI computing environments. The developments are being delivered through Liberty Energy’s Liberty Power Innovations division, which focuses on distributed power infrastructure for AI-era data centres. Under the agreement, Bergen Engines will supply 45 gas generator sets, each rated at 11.2MWe, providing a combined installed capacity exceeding 500MW. The infrastructure combines Bergen Engines’ medium-speed engines with alternators from Marelli Motori and SHIELDX dynamic power stabilisation technology from Piller Power Systems. Power stability for AI workloads According to the companies, the SHIELDX platform is designed to manage rapid fluctuations in AI-related power demand by stabilising short-duration load variations. The flywheel-based system is intended to help maintain stable power delivery while reducing the need for oversized generation infrastructure. Ron Gusek, CEO of Liberty Energy, says, “AI data centres are fundamentally changing how power infrastructure can be designed and deployed, and this initial order with Bergen Engines reflects a shared commitment to providing reliable, high-efficiency power solutions to support critical data centre infrastructure growth. “Collaborating with Bergen Engines strengthens our power platform, serving as an important component of our broader integrated solution that includes LPI’s Forte modular power generation architecture and Tempo power quality system. "Together, we will be able to deliver essential power generation infrastructure to support the demanding requirements of next-generation computing.” Theo Lorentzos, Vice President Sales Americas at Bergen Engines, adds, “These environments require robust baseload generation and the ability to respond to rapid and significant load fluctuations. "By working in partnership with Liberty and integrating SHIELDX, we are delivering a solution that combines proven generation performance with the flexibility required for AI-driven demand profiles.” Dean Richards, CEO of Piller Power Systems, comments, “SHIELDX protects the generation assets from highly dynamic, sub-second load behaviour, enabling stable plant operation under extreme load fluctuations. This ensures optimal engine performance while delivering consistent, high-quality power to the data centre.” Deliveries for the projects are scheduled to begin during the second half of 2027.

Socomec expands North American manufacturing

Socomec, a manufacturer of low voltage power management systems, has opened two new manufacturing facilities in North America to support growing demand from the data centre sector. The new sites, located in Suwanee, Georgia, near Atlanta, and Brampton, Ontario, near Toronto, form part of the company’s strategy to expand regional production capacity for power infrastructure equipment. According to Socomec, the facilities will support the manufacture of UPS systems, static transfer switches, transformers, and power distribution units for data centre operators across North America. The company says the data centre sector is now its largest and fastest-growing market segment globally, driven by increasing AI-related infrastructure demand. New facilities target data centre growth The Suwanee site spans 194,000ft² (18,023m²) and will manufacture UPS systems and static transfer switches. Socomec expects the facility to reach full production capacity in early 2027 and employ around 300 staff. Meanwhile, the Brampton facility covers more than 150,000ft² (13,935m²) and will focus on transformers and power distribution units. The site currently employs 170 people. Socomec says local manufacturing will help improve lead times, support compliance with North American regulatory standards, and strengthen supply chain resilience for regional customers. The company also confirmed that a dedicated North American development team has been established to support customer requirements within the data centre market. Ivan Steyert, CEO of Socomec Group, says, “Manufacturing where we sell is a decisive advantage in the current geopolitical context. "Our two new sites will significantly increase Socomec’s ability to serve North American data centre operators, ensuring a consistent level of quality, reduced lead times, and improved industrial agility, while allowing us to remain close to our customers.” Michele Putignano, CEO of North America at Socomec, adds, “In a demanding and highly regulated North American market, our ambition is to build sustainable local expertise, offer ever more innovative solutions, and strengthen our position as the leader in power conversion for data centres and other critical infrastructures. “The region is now a strategic driver for Socomec, having seen annual growth rates of over 20% in five consecutive years.” Socomec currently employs around 750 people across the US and Canada. For more from Socomec, click here.

Andalusia greenlights €1.26bn campus at Málaga TechPark

The Andalusian regional government in southern Spain has formally declared a major new data centre development a "project of strategic interest", clearing the path for a €1.257 billion (£1 billion) facility to be built within the expansion zone of Málaga TechPark. The announcement was made on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, following a meeting of the Consejo de Gobierno, the regional cabinet of the Junta de Andalucía. The project is being promoted by Saltburn Holding, a company linked to brothers Rafael and José Benjumea Benjumea - grandsons of the founder of the Abengoa industrial group - and headquartered in Madrid. The Benjumea brothers have also been active in other digital infrastructure ventures, including Aquilon Project Iberia and CSM Holding, positioning them as increasingly significant players in Spain's fast-growing data centre sector. Facility specifications The proposed campus will occupy a 71,415m² plot within the SUS CA-23 sector of Málaga TechPark's expansion area, in the Campanillas district on the city's western fringe. The facility is designed to meet Tier III / Tier III+ reliability standards and will deliver an IT power capacity of 100 MW, with a total electrical draw of 150 MW, placing it firmly in the hyperscale-adjacent category. Intended workloads span data storage and processing, artificial intelligence inference and training, cloud services, and digital connectivity infrastructure. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2027, with the strategic interest declaration valid through to 31 December 2031, providing a regulatory framework to cover the full development and early operational phases. The development is projected to create 710 direct jobs during the construction phase, with a further 254 permanent positions once the facility enters operation. Given typical multiplier effects for large-scale infrastructure projects, the indirect employment and supply-chain impact on the wider Málaga economy is expected to be substantially higher. The declaration of strategic interest falls under Decreto-ley 4/2019, Andalusia's framework for administrative simplification and the promotion of strategic economic initiatives. It activates the regional government's Unidad Aceleradora de Proyectos (UAP - Project Acceleration Unit), designed to streamline permitting and reduce the bureaucratic timeline for large-scale investments. The project file has received favourable assessments from the departments responsible for industry, territorial planning, environmental sustainability, agriculture, culture, and public health, alongside a technical endorsement from the UAP itself. Málaga as a digital hub in southern Europe The Málaga TechPark - also known as the Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía (PTA) - has been the anchor of the city's technology economy since opening in 1992. Today, it hosts more than 650 companies across ICT, cybersecurity, fintech, and research and development, employing over 20,000 people and contributing around €4.8 billion (£4.1 billion) to Andalusia's GDP. International tenants include Google, Agilent Technologies, and TDK, among others. The Saltburn Holding campus would be the second major data centre to be announced in Andalusia in quick succession. Construction is already under way on Sierra DC's macrocentre in Escúzar, Granada - a project backed by Swedish capital with an investment approaching €1 billion (£865 million) - signalling that the region is beginning to attract the kind of hyperscale-scale commitments that have so far concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Iberian Atlantic coast. However, despite the scale of investor interest, electrical grid constraints remain a structural challenge for Andalusia's data centre ambitions. Regional President Juanma Moreno has publicly acknowledged delays to at least one technology project in Málaga due to grid connection difficulties and insufficient power supply. Industry analysts note that the region's grid infrastructure has been deprioritised in negotiations between the Junta and the central government over Spain's new energy planning framework, with data centres placed at the bottom of the list of infrastructure requests. For the Saltburn Holding project, a planned electrical consumption of 150 MW makes grid access a critical dependency. How quickly those connections can be secured will likely determine whether the 2027 construction start holds.

BCS Consultancy expands into Southern Europe

BCS Consultancy, a global data centre consultancy, has expanded its presence in Southern Europe through two senior appointments and a new data centre project in Barcelona. As part of this move, the company has appointed Alberto Modrego Eisman and Rhoana Zanotelli as Senior Consultants to support growth across the Iberian market. According to BCS, the appointments strengthen its ability to support clients across the data centre development lifecycle in Spain and wider Southern Europe. Alberto Modrego Eisman joins the company with experience in cost management and large-scale developments across Spain and the EMEA region, including previous roles at JLL. Rhoana Zanotelli previously held senior infrastructure and development roles at Goodman, where she worked on data centre projects across Europe. The Iberian market and a Barcelona data centre project BCS has also secured a data centre development project in Barcelona as part of a wider urban digital infrastructure scheme in the region. The company says it will support the project through key delivery phases as demand for data centre capacity continues to increase across Southern Europe. According to BCS Consultancy’s Q1 Data Centre Commercial Report, the Spanish market has recently moved to a competitive grid access framework using capacity auctions across constrained power nodes in locations including Madrid, Aragón, and Andalusia. The report states that the model prioritises operational readiness and accelerated delivery times for new infrastructure developments. BCS says the Iberian Peninsula continues to attract data centre investment due to lower land costs, renewable energy availability, and the ability to support large-scale AI and GPU-focused facilities. Chris Coward, COO at BCS Consultancy, comments, “Iberia is rapidly becoming one of the most important growth markets for data centre development in Europe. As constraints intensify in traditional hubs, our clients are looking to new regions to scale. "Expanding our presence in Southern Europe allows us to combine local expertise with our pan-European delivery capability, giving clients the clarity and confidence they need to execute complex projects in these emerging markets.” For more from BCS Consultancy, click here.

NEOIX, Hitachi partner on hyperscale data centres

NEOIX, a London-based data centre developer, has signed a memorandum of understanding with energy infrastructure provider Hitachi Energy and Hitachi Vantara, its digital infrastructure arm, to collaborate on the development of AI-ready hyperscale data centres in selected global markets. The agreement combines NEOIX’s data centre development and sustainability experience with infrastructure and digital platform technologies from Hitachi Energy and Hitachi Vantara. According to the companies, the collaboration will focus on developing large-scale data centre campuses designed to support AI, cloud computing, and high-performance workloads. Under the agreement, NEOIX will lead hyperscale campus development, including site design, scalability, and sustainability planning. Hitachi Energy will support work related to grid connectivity, renewable energy integration, energy storage, and power infrastructure, while Hitachi Vantara will provide digital infrastructure platforms and storage technologies for operational and business applications. AI infrastructure and energy efficiency Hari Slipicevic, CEO of NEOIX, says, “This partnership with Hitachi represents a powerful alignment of capabilities across energy, digital infrastructure, and development. “At NEOIX, we are focused on building the next generation of AI-ready data centre campuses, designed from the outset to be scalable, sustainable, and deeply integrated with the energy system.” Antonio Marinoni, Senior Business Development Director at Hitachi EMEA Region, adds, “By combining the strengths of Hitachi Energy and Hitachi Vantara, we are pleased to support NEOIX in enabling high-performance, sustainable infrastructure for the AI era. “This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to integrating energy and digital innovation, ensuring that next-generation data centres are not only scalable and resilient, but also aligned with the global transition towards low-carbon infrastructure.” The companies state that the collaboration will initially focus on concept development, reference architectures, and market engagement activities ahead of potential future project delivery. For more from Hitachi, click here.

Navigating AI’s infrastructure surge

In this exclusive interview, DCNN speaks with Lottie Westerling (pictured above), Head of Product at techoraco, about the structural pressures emerging across digital infrastructure, the industry’s shifting priorities, and the debates set to define the next phase of AI-driven growth: Power, talent, and the road ahead DCNN: AI is accelerating demand for digital infrastructure at an unprecedented rate. From your perspective, is the industry genuinely keeping pace, or are we starting to see structural gaps emerge? Lottie: The pace of growth across digital infrastructure is unlike anything the industry has experienced before. AI has accelerated demand dramatically, and we’re seeing a surge of activity from both established players and new entrants looking to capitalise on the opportunity. However, this rapid expansion is also exposing clear structural gaps - most notably around access to power. The challenge is no longer just about building capacity, but about how quickly that capacity can be energised. From the resurgence of gas and the resulting pressure on turbine supply to increasingly long grid interconnection queues, the strain on energy infrastructure is becoming more visible. In many ways, demand is now outpacing the systems that support it - permitting, power delivery, and supply chains alike. Addressing these constraints will be critical for organisations that want to remain competitive in an AI-driven landscape. DCNN: Events like Datacloud Global Congress Cannes bring together a wide cross-section of the ecosystem. What recurring themes are you hearing most often from industry leaders today? Lottie: Several themes are consistently coming to the fore in conversations with industry leaders. As already mentioned, speed to power remains a dominant concern, but it’s closely followed by a broader shift in how data centres are being designed. As density requirements increase, we’re seeing a growing focus on new architectures, with liquid cooling becoming central to future-ready design strategies. At the same time, financing continues to be a key topic - not due to a lack of capital, but because of questions around risk allocation and the long-term bankability of large-scale projects. Talent continues to dominate as another major area of concern. The rise of AI-driven “gigafactories” is intensifying demand for skilled workers, and the shortage of talent is becoming just as critical as constraints in equipment or infrastructure. Finally, community engagement is rising on the agenda. Public perception and planning friction are increasingly influencing project timelines, making it essential for the industry to communicate its value more clearly and responsibly. DCNN: The industry is often described as highly collaborative, yet also competitive. How important is collaboration in addressing some of the sector’s biggest challenges, such as energy access or skills shortages? Lottie: Collaboration is fundamental to solving the industry’s most pressing challenges. Issues such as energy access extend far beyond the data centre sector; they sit at the intersection of grid planning, regulation, power generation, and infrastructure design. As a result, meaningful progress depends on close coordination between the energy ecosystem and digital infrastructure stakeholders. The same principle applies to talent. Addressing the skills gap will require a collective approach, from developing shared training pathways to increasing visibility into career opportunities across the sector. By working together, the industry can make these pathways more accessible and attractive to a broader, more diverse workforce. DCNN: Talent continues to be a critical issue across digital infrastructure. What changes are needed to attract and retain the next generation of talent into the sector? Lottie: One of the biggest challenges is awareness. The value proposition of a career in digital infrastructure is not always well understood, particularly among younger audiences. There is a clear need to better communicate the scale, impact, and long-term opportunity that the sector offers. This means investing in more structured entry points such as graduate programmes, apprenticeships, and industry-led initiatives that make it easier for people to find and pursue careers in the space. It also involves creating clearer career pathways and showcasing the diversity of roles available, from engineering and operations through to sustainability and innovation. Ultimately, attracting the next generation will depend on making the industry more visible, more accessible, and more aligned with the priorities of emerging talent. DCNN: From the conversations you’re helping to shape across the Global Congress community, are you seeing a shift in priorities? Lottie: There is a growing sense of cautious optimism across the industry. While demand remains strong, there is an increasing focus on ensuring that growth is both resilient and sustainable over the long term. Leaders are placing greater emphasis on the fundamentals: reliability of power supply, sustainability of water usage, and alignment with evolving regulatory frameworks. There is also a stronger focus on future-proofing assets, ensuring that infrastructure built today will remain relevant as technologies continue to evolve. This suggests a shift from purely rapid expansion towards a more balanced approach that prioritises durability, efficiency, and long-term viability. DCNN: Looking ahead, what topics or debates do you think will define the next 12–24 months in the data centre and digital infrastructure space? Lottie: Over the next 12 to 24 months, several key debates are likely to shape the direction of the industry. At the forefront is how to meet the enormous power requirements of AI at scale. This includes discussions around alternative energy pathways, the role of nuclear, and the viability of behind-the-meter solutions. Risk allocation will also be a central issue, particularly in how responsibility is distributed between investors, operators, and tenants in increasingly complex projects. At the same time, more forward-looking topics are beginning to gain traction. The potential for data centres in space, while still nascent, is generating discussion, as is the longer-term impact of quantum computing on infrastructure requirements. Together, these conversations reflect an industry that is not only responding to immediate pressures, but also actively shaping its future trajectory.