Data Centre Business News and Industry Trends

Macquarie to buy A$240m site for 200MW data centre

Australian data centre operator Macquarie Data Centres, part of Macquarie Technology Group, has announced plans to develop a new engineering and technology campus alongside a proposed 200MW data centre campus in Macquarie Park, Sydney, Australia. The company has exercised its option to acquire a 34,200m² development site for A$240 million (£124 million), with completion of the purchase subject to standard settlement procedures. The proposed development remains subject to planning and other regulatory approvals. Located in Sydney's North Zone (AZ1), the campus is intended to support AI, cloud, and cybersecurity infrastructure, whilst also providing engineering and research opportunities through a partnership with Macquarie University. Initial construction is expected to be completed in late 2029, subject to approvals. David Hirst (pictured above), CEO of Macquarie Data Centres, comments, "Alongside the ~200MW of Australian-owned and operated data centre [capacity] this will deliver to Sydney's North Zone, the proposed campus will also deliver lasting benefit to the local community. "In partnership with Macquarie University, students and researchers will gain hands-on access to the latest data centre, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies. It will also provide a more than one-acre-sized, intergenerational community park for City of Ryde residents." Campus plans extend beyond data centre infrastructure Macquarie says the proposed facility is being designed to support high-density AI workloads using advanced air cooling, closed-loop cooling technology (to minimise operational water consumption), and direct-to-chip liquid cooling within the data halls. The company also plans to incorporate community facilities into the site, including a park of more than one acre, a community garden, and an outdoor art gallery, subject to planning approval. Macquarie Data Centres says the development builds on its existing partnership with Macquarie University and is intended to provide students and researchers with access to operational data centre, cloud, AI, and cybersecurity technologies. For more from Macquarie Data Centres, click here.

Black & White Engineering expands into Spain

Data centre design consultancy Black & White Engineering has expanded its European operations with the opening of a new office in Madrid, strengthening its presence in Spain's growing data centre market. The new office will support increasing demand from data centre clients across Europe, providing civil, structural, MEP, and design management expertise from a local base. The Madrid operation will be led by Hector Hernandez (pictured above), Area Director, Spain, while Marcos Uttley has been appointed Regional Director, Europe, with responsibility for supporting the consultancy's growth across southern Europe. Marcos says, "Spain is an important market for data centre investment and gives us a strong base from which to support clients locally and across wider Europe. The Madrid office reflects our continued focus on building depth in key markets while drawing on the technical experience of our global team." Strengthening support for Europe's data centre market Hector Hernandez brings more than 20 years' experience in data centre and critical infrastructure engineering, having worked on projects across Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and the Americas. His experience spans hyperscale and colocation facilities, including advisory, design, construction, commissioning, and operational delivery. He comments, "The opportunity to build Black & White Engineering's presence in Spain from the ground up was a major draw. The market here is developing quickly and clients need advisors who understand both the technical demands of these projects and the local delivery environment." An Accredited Tier Designer by the Uptime Institute, Hector will work with the company's wider European leadership team as it continues to expand its operations in Spain. For more from Black & White Engineering, click here.

Pure DC begins first phase of 550MW Finnish AI campus

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has begun the first phase of a planned 550MW AI data centre campus in Seinäjoki, Finland, with Phase One representing an investment of more than €1.5 billion (£1.2 billion). The initial 110MW phase has been fully leased, with planning permission secured and the substation for the first data hall already operational. Subject to future approvals and commercial agreements, the development could expand to more than 550MW of IT capacity, representing a total investment exceeding €7.5 billion (£6.3 billion). The campus is being developed in partnership with SDC Ventures and is expected to create more than 3,000 construction jobs over the course of the project. Pure DC says the development will also support improvements to local electricity and telecommunications infrastructure. Gary Wojtaszek, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of Pure DC, notes, “Countries building AI infrastructure over the next decade will shape the global economy for the next 50 years. Finland has all the ingredients required to lead this transformation: world class engineering talent, abundant renewable energy, and a culture of innovation that gave rise to Nokia. “We are not building data centres in Seinäjoki; together with our partners, including the Seinäjoki Municipality, we are helping create one of Europe’s most important AI ecosystems capable of supporting global tech leaders as well as the next generation of Finnish entrepreneurs and innovators.” A campus designed for large-scale AI workloads Known as SJK01, the 370-acre campus is planned to support more than 550MW of IT capacity for AI and machine learning workloads. The site will have access to more than 700MVA of renewable power and will be built using repeatable 40MW modules incorporating direct liquid cooling for high-density computing. The development will also include closed-loop cooling systems that use no water during operation and will support district heating through waste heat recovery. In addition, Pure DC says it will work with Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and local vocational institutions to develop specialist training programmes aimed at supporting future employment in the data centre sector. The British Ambassador to Finland, Laura Davies, comments, “I am delighted by this major UK investment into Pure DC’s new site in Seinäjoki - the largest yet by a UK company in Finland. It's an example of the growing role of UK companies in financing and delivering digital infrastructure across Europe, which is a key component of building our shared data sovereignty. “Not only will this AI data centre campus become one of Finland’s largest inward investment projects, but it will be a critical enabler of scientific excellence and [will] provide a platform to develop industrial competitiveness and sovereign capability. "Side by side in the top 10 of the Global Innovation Index, the UK and Finland already lead the way on AI and AI security, and this kind of world-class compute infrastructure will further support our ability to shape the future of AI for the better.” For more from Pure DC, click here.

Meta commits $50bn to 5GW Louisiana data centre campus

US technology company Meta has increased its investment in its Richland Parish data centre campus in Louisiana, USA, to more than $50 billion (£37.4 billion), expanding the site to almost 10 million square feet (929,030m²) with a planned IT capacity of 5GW. The facility will house Hyperion, Meta's largest AI training cluster, making it the company's biggest data centre campus and one of the largest data centres ever announced. The expansion comes as demand for AI infrastructure continues to increase, with the campus expected to play a significant role in supporting Meta's AI operations. Expansion brings jobs and energy investment The project is expected to support up to 7,500 construction jobs at peak activity, alongside approximately 1,000 operational roles. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the development will also generate around 1,900 indirect jobs across the region. Meta says it has already awarded more than $1.6 billion (£1.1 billion) in contracts to Louisiana businesses and has invested over $1 million (£748,000) in community projects across Richland Parish since construction began. The company has also established workforce partnerships with local colleges and training providers to support careers in skilled trades and data centre operations. The expansion is supported by an agreement with Entergy Louisiana, which includes investment in new electricity infrastructure comprising seven natural gas-fired power stations, three grid-scale battery projects, potential nuclear generation developments, and additional purchased power. Meta has also committed to funding up to 2.5GW of renewable energy and says it plans to return 100% of the site's water consumption to local watersheds through restoration and water infrastructure projects. Rachel Peterson, Vice President of Data Centers at Meta, comments, "From the beginning, this project has always been about more than building infrastructure; it's about building alongside the community. "The people, workforce, and partnership we've found in Louisiana have enabled this project to be a cornerstone of our global infrastructure. "With more than $1.6 billion already contracted with local companies and thousands of jobs being supported, we're delivering real economic impact alongside the AI infrastructure that will power the future." For more from Meta, click here.

Schneider calls for collaboration on London data centres

Global energy technology company Schneider Electric has brought together organisations from across the public and private sectors to discuss the infrastructure challenges facing London's data centre market and the collaboration needed to support future AI growth. Held in partnership with Opportunity London and SEGRO, the roundtable explored how London can maintain its position as Europe's largest data centre hub while addressing growing demand for digital infrastructure. The event, chaired by Laura Citron, Chief Executive of London & Partners, included representatives from government, local authorities, energy companies, data centre operators, real estate, and the wider technology sector. Participants discussed the need for greater coordination around planning, electricity infrastructure, land availability, water use, and emerging technologies such as liquid cooling. The discussions also highlighted the importance of improving understanding of data centre requirements among policymakers as demand for AI and cloud infrastructure continues to grow. The roundtable also examined the role of data centres as critical national infrastructure (CNI) and their contribution to economic growth and AI development. Industry highlights need for coordinated infrastructure planning Matthew Baynes (pictured above), Vice President, Secure Power UK & Ireland at Schneider Electric, says, "Today, there remains a fundamental gap between how policymakers perceive and understand data centres [and] how the industry actually operates. "Decisions around planning, land allocation, and power provision are being made without a complete picture of what's required to meet the AI opportunity, and the UK now risks losing ground to markets where that understanding is far more mature. "As the UK's largest data centre hub, and its default AIGZ, London offers all the advantages needed to lead, but closing the gap between ambition and action is not optional; it is the prerequisite for success." Jace Tyrrell, Chief Executive of Opportunity London, adds, "Data centres are no longer a niche; they are foundational to London’s future economic growth, AI ambitions, and global competitiveness." Maria Jose Rivas-Duarte, Director of Sustainability at Pure Data Centres, also says the discussions demonstrated the importance of collaboration between industry, policymakers, and local communities to support responsible digital infrastructure development, while Luisa Cardani, Head of the Data Centres Programme at techUK, notes the UK's data centre sector has significant potential to contribute to economic growth, but that achieving this will require coordinated action between government and industry. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Power equipment shortages threaten Scotland DC growth

A shortage of critical power equipment could become one of the biggest barriers to delivering Scotland's planned data centre expansion, according to Opna, a London-based critical power supply market infrastructure company. The comments follow reports that an £8.2 billion AI data centre project in Lanarkshire, led by CoreWeave and DataVita, is unlikely to meet its original target of being operational by 2030. While discussion around Scotland's data centre growth has largely focused on renewable energy generation and grid connections, Opna argues that shortages of transformers, switchgear, cables, and other electrical equipment present an equally significant challenge. According to Montel's curtailment report, Scottish wind farms received around £343 million in payments to switch off in 2025. At the same time, Wood Mackenzie reports average transformer lead times have reached 128 weeks, with some orders extending beyond four years, while prices have increased by 77% since 2019. Grid upgrades and data centres compete for equipment Shilpika Gautam, founder and CEO of Opna, says, "The massive investment in grid upgrades to support Scotland’s data centres is being hindered by a shortage of critical power equipment: transformers, cables, switchgear, etc. Network operators, who buy in bulk and have long-term agreements with manufacturers, get priority for these supplies. "As a result, when a data centre orders equipment, it’s pushed to the back of a four-year waitlist. Grid expansion and data centre development compete for the same resources, while only network operators have reliable access to manufacturers. "Connecting to the grid is the bottleneck, but procuring critical power equipment is the bottleneck of the bottleneck; few are addressing it." Opna points to the scale of electricity network investment already under way in Scotland. SP Energy Networks began a £12 billion programme of grid upgrades across central and southern Scotland in April, including 12 new substations and a supply chain framework worth up to £5.4 billion over 10 years. Meanwhile, SSEN Transmission is investing at least £22 billion in northern Scotland by 2031 and recently announced a further £7.4 billion supply chain framework. Shilpika continues, "The tens of billions of pounds of grid upgrades meant to unblock Scotland’s data centres are being bought from the same transformer and switchgear order books those data centres need. Network operators are bulk buyers with multi-year framework agreements; manufacturers allocate scarce production slots to them first. "A single data centre project arriving with a one-off order goes to the back of a four-year book. [As mentioned,] grid expansion and data centre growth are now competing for the same equipment, and only one side of that competition has a standing seat at the manufacturers’ table." For more from Opna, click here.

Verne agrees Arcus acquisition of Volta Data Centres

Arcus Infrastructure Partners, a London-based specialist infrastructure fund manager, has entered into an agreement to acquire Volta Data Centres from data centre provider Verne, adding a 6MW carrier-neutral colocation facility in central London to its digital infrastructure portfolio. The transaction, expected to complete in July 2026, will see Arcus acquire 100% of Volta Data Centres, which is currently operated as Verne's UK data centre. The facility provides colocation and interconnection services to customers in the financial services, telecommunications, IT, and enterprise sectors. Located near the City of London, the site offers 6MW of capacity and features connectivity through more than 40 on-site carriers and over 1,200 cross-connects. Acquisition strengthens UK data centre presence The acquisition expands Arcus's presence in the colocation market, building on its existing investment in Portus Data Centres. According to the company, the UK market was identified as offering strong long-term potential due to growing demand and constrained supply. Charlie Scott, Senior Investment Director at Arcus, comments, "Volta is an excellent fit with our AEIF4 investment strategy, providing critical digital infrastructure at the heart of one of Europe's premier colocation markets. "The business stood out as a high-quality investment combining stable contracted revenues, an entrenched position in London's connectivity ecosystem, and a clear pathway for growth and commercial improvements, supported by an experienced site team. "Colocation has been a strategic focus for Arcus since 2024. We look forward to partnering with the Volta team to support the next phase of the business's growth and building on this entry point with further acquisitions." For Verne, the sale forms part of a broader strategy to focus investment on low-carbon, high-density data centre infrastructure across Northern Europe. Dominic Ward (pictured above), CEO of Verne, suggests, "This agreement is the right next step for the London data centre, its customers, and its team. Arcus has deep infrastructure experience and is well placed to support the site's next phase of growth. "For Verne, this is a strategic portfolio decision that allows us to focus our investment and expertise on low-carbon, high-density data centre infrastructure in the locations best suited to AI, high-performance computing, and other demanding workloads. We will work closely with Arcus to support a smooth transition." The transaction remains subject to the fulfilment of contractual requirements and is expected to complete during July 2026. For more from Verne, click here.

Barings extends Stockholm data centre lease

Alternative investment manager Barings has secured a 10-year lease extension with a global data centre operator at its Vanda 3 site in Kista, Stockholm, Sweden, while also obtaining an additional 30MW of power capacity to support future expansion. The agreement strengthens occupancy at the Vanda 3 asset and supports further data centre development as demand for power capacity continues to grow. Infrastructure work is already underway to connect the additional capacity to the site. Vanda 3 is a mixed-use site within Stockholm's established data centre cluster in Kista. Covering approximately 65,000m², it currently includes data centre, logistics, storage, and industrial space, with the unnamed global data centre operator occupying around 15,000m². Additional power supports future expansion The additional 30MW of capacity, secured through Ellevio, will enable the conversion of existing buildings for further data centre use, including space expected to become available in the future. It will also support additional development across the site. Barings is also seeking planning approval for a further 25,000m² of building rights in 2027, increasing the site's long-term development potential. Olli Forsman, Director, Transactions & Asset Management Nordics at Barings, comments, "The lease extension with the global data centre operator is a strong endorsement of Vanda 3's quality and long-term relevance as a data centre location. "Alongside this, securing additional power capacity is a pivotal milestone that significantly enhances the asset's ability to support further expansion. In a market where access to power remains a key constraint, this puts us in a strong position to support both existing and new operators looking to scale in Stockholm." Kristina Johnson, Senior Director, Nordics Asset Management at Barings, adds, "The combination of secured power, existing infrastructure, and development flexibility creates a compelling proposition for data centre operators and positions the asset well to capture future demand. "The Nordics is one of our preferred markets across a range of asset classes and capital profiles, and we will continue to explore all opportunities where we can create value on behalf of our partners."

VIRTUS expands Slough data centre campus

VIRTUS Data Centres, a UK data centre owner-operator and part of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), has announced plans to expand its presence at the Slough Trading Estate with a new AI-ready data centre that will provide 32.5MW of IT capacity, increasing the company's UK data centre estate to more than 300MW of operational and committed capacity. The new facility, known as LONDON19, is intended to provide additional capacity to meet growing demand for AI, cloud, and digital infrastructure. The data centre will incorporate advanced cooling systems, sustainable construction materials, and provision for the future export of waste heat for use within the local community. New facility planned for Slough campus Planning permission for LONDON19 has already been secured through the Slough Trading Estate Simplified Planning Zone. SEGRO will develop the powered shell, with construction expected to begin following design approval. The development will include a roof-level plant deck and is expected to achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating. Once completed, LONDON19 will become the latest addition to VIRTUS's UK portfolio, bringing the company's operational and committed capacity to more than 300MW. Adam Eaton, CEO of VIRTUS Data Centres, says, "We are delighted to expand our Slough campus with the addition of LONDON19, further strengthening our ability to support customers seeking scalable, resilient, and sustainable data centre capacity in London's western corridor. "This development builds on our long-standing relationship with SEGRO and enables us to deliver critical power and IT capacity aligned with customer demand. "By embedding sustainability considerations from the outset, including provision for future waste heat utilisation, LONDON19 reflects our focus on delivering flexible, future-ready infrastructure that supports the UK's digital economy while minimising environmental impact." Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director of Data Centres and Strategic Partnerships at SEGRO, adds, "VIRTUS is one of Europe's leading data centre operators and we are pleased to be extending our long-standing relationship through the delivery of this new facility at the Slough Trading Estate. "The Trading Estate has been at the centre of the UK's data centre market for more than 20 years, and the scale of infrastructure, power availability, and planning certainty we have established there, alongside a strong focus on sustainability and positive engagement with the local community, continues to support customers like VIRTUS as they expand in a highly constrained environment." VIRTUS says it will continue its engagement with the local community as development progresses at the Slough Trading Estate. For more from VIRTUS, click here.

AI infrastructure is booming beyond the bubble

In this exclusive article for DCNN, Damir Špoljarič (pictured above), founder of Gi21 Capital, challenges the idea of an AI bubble, suggesting that long-term investment in data centre infrastructure reflects enduring demand rather than short-term market speculation: The distinction between applications and infrastructure Every conversation about the economics of AI inevitably arrives at the subject of the dreaded AI bubble. Artificial intelligence, we’re told, is a bubble that is just moments from bursting. When the MIT Sloan Management Review compiled its list of the biggest trends in AI and data science for 2026, the deflation of said bubble topped the list. With the IPO race between OpenAI and Anthropic heating up, The Telegraph worried aloud about “history repeating itself” with the “dotcom bubble 2.0”. But these conversations are conflating two distinct categories: AI infrastructure and AI applications. The bubble-indicating hype exists predominantly at the application layer, consisting of AI startups, software platforms, and emerging business models. Infrastructure, by contrast, is driven by non-cyclical demand and is still in the early stages, so it’s more stable than the application layer. The entire AI ecosystem isn’t a single market; therefore, there is no single bubble that can burst. The physical foundation that makes AI possible (data centres, power systems, networking equipment, cooling technologies, and compute capacity) and the investment appear increasingly structural and long-term. Valuation vs demand vs implementation Many AI companies are without a doubt overvalued, lacking strong fundamentals for such valuation, and those company-sized bubbles may indeed burst. However, there is no industry-sized bubble, and it’s a mistake to conflate the failure of individual companies with the long-term trajectory of AI adoption itself. No bubble changes the reality that AI is still in the early stages of implementation across all industries globally, and that it will have a profound effect on the social contract in the coming years. This is real, transformative technology that will create far more winners than failed companies. The models are getting more efficient by the day, but this does not mean that it will soon outpace demand. The world is likely using only a minuscule fraction of the AI that will eventually be deployed. A McKinsey report released last November found that nearly two thirds of organisations are still in their AI pilot and experimentation stages, and have not yet begun proper scaling across their enterprises. As AI progressively penetrates every industry, the need for infrastructure will appear increasingly sensible and structural as opposed to speculative. Efficiency gains don’t change the fact that AI adoption remains at a very early stage, with untold demand yet to be realised. Not-so-peak investment The validity of any argument about an AI bubble rests on the idea that the industry is at, or near, peak investment. At best, we’ve only just finished the warm-up. There are indeed exorbitant amounts of capital flowing into foundation models, but that’s to be expected when building the base infrastructure layer of a technology as transformative as this. It’s also necessary. We’re building the infrastructure required for future growth, not responding to already realised demand. Data centres, power grids, transmission networks, and compute clusters are years-long projects from planning to construction. Entire economies would struggle with capacity shortages if we waited until demand fully materialised. Consider it the opening phase of a much longer infrastructure buildout. The cash flow is justified when viewed as front-loading the infrastructure of the biggest industrial shift of the century. Although AI is mostly limited to software, its next phase will be real-world, physical integration, particularly through robotics. Once that occurs, an even bigger (and more obviously justified) explosion in capital volume is likely to occur. Autonomous, AI-driven robotics will become central to manufacturing, logistics, and daily life, and require a capital expenditure that makes today’s spending look tiny. Real demand and imagined bubbles Supply constraints are good evidence that infrastructure demand remains strong, but it’s also more complex than that. Global project delays often come down to the limited availability of critical data centre infrastructure components such as transformers and UPS batteries. Lead times for both typically exceed a year. GPU supply is under hard pricing pressure due to high demand. Such realities are wholly inconsistent with the concept of a market suffering from excess capacity. The likelihood of overbuilding is low. Genuine long-term demand exists behind current infrastructure development. Decade-long contracts are now commonplace in this market. Speculative projects haven’t disappeared, but overall financing conditions remain relatively disciplined. To that end, banks and infrastructure investors remain relatively conservative when it comes to financing, insofar as they still want to see meaningful long-term customer commitments before backing new AI data centre developments. Infrastructure is always built ahead of demand - only with AI has this fact inspired such panic. The gap between current end-user consumption and projected future demand is fairly standard in the tech world. Less bubble, more well-laid plans Rather than view AI infrastructure as a bubble, we should view it as akin to city planning. Roads and water pipelines are built before they’re demanded en masse, and demand follows their construction. Construction and deployment take time. AI infrastructure, like any other kind of infrastructure, must be planned years in advance. The bubble is not about to burst, because the bubble doesn’t exist. This is only the beginning of development, implementation, and investment. However it looks in a decade, it is not cause for frantic concern today.