News

Armstrong International acquires humidity controls specialist

Armstrong International EMEA, the continental entity of the global thermal energy innovations provider, Armstrong International, has acquired HygroTemp, a Netherlands-based humidity controls specialist. HygroTemp has worked closely with Armstrong – EMEA’s Humidification Group in the Netherlands since 2007. Together they promote key technologies like the EvaPack, a hygienic and controlled evaporation system manufactured by Armstrong EMEA’s subsidiary, Devatec, located in Normandy, France. HygroTemp’s former owner and Managing Director, Rolf Bosscher, will support Armstrong’s European Humidification team in further developing and promoting the EvaPack technology. He will also continue to be HygroTemp’s Business Development Manager. “Our clients are entering into a transition from steam humidification towards adiabatic humidification and free cooling, thus facilitating decarbonisation thanks to lower evaporation temperature,” says Rossen Ivanov, Managing Director of Armstrong International – EMEA. “HygroTemp has played a key role in introducing this new technology to companies in healthcare, pharmaceutical, electronics and data centre market segments, among others.” Jean-François Frambot, Armstrong International’s Global Director of Humidification and General Manager of Devatec, will take on the role of General Manager at HygroTemp. He comments, “This acquisition strengthens our position in The Netherlands and supports expansion into other European markets, where the demand for hygienic adiabatic humidification and free cooling solutions is growing.” Armstrong says that the acquisition underscores its continued investment in sustainable, innovative technologies that foster thermal energy efficiency, decarbonisation and long-term growth.

Progress Data Cloud platform launched

Progress, a provider of AI-powered digital experiences and infrastructure software, has announced the launch of Progress Data Cloud, a managed Data Platform as a Service designed to simplify enterprise data and artificial intelligence (AI) operations in the cloud. With Progress Data Cloud, customers can accelerate their digital transformation and AI initiatives while reducing operational complexity and IT overhead. As global businesses scale their data operations and embrace AI, a robust cloud data strategy has become the cornerstone of success, enabling organisations to harness the full potential of their data for innovation and growth. Progress Data Cloud meets this critical need by providing a unified, secure and scalable platform to build, manage and deploy data architectures and AI projects without the burden of managing IT infrastructure. “Organisations increasingly recognise that cloud and AI are pivotal to unlocking business value at scale,” says John Ainsworth, GM and EVP, Application and Data Platform, Progress. “Progress Data Cloud empowers companies to achieve this by offering a seamless, end-to-end experience for data and AI operations, removing the barriers of infrastructure complexity while delivering exceptional performance, security and predictability.” Key features and benefits Progress Data Cloud is a Data Platform as a Service that enables managed hosting of feature-complete instances of Progress Semaphore and Progress MarkLogic, with plans to support additional Progress products in the future. Core benefits include: • Simplified operations: Eliminates infrastructure complexity with always-on infrastructure management, monitoring service, continuous security scanning and automated product upgrades.• Cost efficiency: Reduces IT costs and bottlenecks with predictable pricing, resource usage transparency and no egress fees.• Enhanced security: Helps harden security posture with an enterprise-grade security model that is SOC 2 Type 1 compliant.• Scalability and performance: Offers superior availability and reliability, supporting mission-critical business operations, GenAI demands and large-scale analytics.• Streamlined user management: Self-service access controls and tenancy management provide better visibility and customisation. Progress Data Cloud accelerates time to production by offering managed hosting for the Progress MarkLogic Server database and the Progress MarkLogic Data Hub solution with full-feature parity. Customers can benefit from enhanced scalability, security and seamless deployment options. Replacing Semaphore Cloud, Progress Data Cloud provides a next-generation cloud platform with all existing Semaphore functionality plus new features for improved performance, security, reliability, user management and SharePoint Online integration. “As enterprises continue to invest in digital transformation and AI strategies, the need for robust, scalable and secure data platforms becomes increasingly evident,” says Stewart Bond, Vice President, Data Intelligence and Integration Software, IDC. “Progress Data Cloud addresses a critical market need by simplifying data operations and accelerating the development of AI-powered solutions. Its capabilities, from seamless infrastructure management to enterprise-grade security, position it as a compelling choice for organisations looking to unlock the full potential of their data to drive innovation and business value.” Progress Data Cloud is a cloud-based hosting of foundational products that make up the Progress Data Platform portfolio. Progress Data Cloud is now available for existing and new customers of the MarkLogic and Semaphore platforms.

Europe’s largest cloud and AI data centre gets approved

DC01UK’s planning application for a new state-of-the-art data centre has, as of 23 January 2025, been approved by Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee. The new facility has been given the green light just one week after the Government launched its AI Opportunities Action Plan. The plan outlines the economic growth opportunities presented by the AI revolution, in which new data centres will play a pivotal role. The new plan sets out long term plans for AI infrastructure needs, mitigates sustainability and includes security considerations for AI infrastructure. Last September, DC01UK’s planning application was widely reported on, when it featured exclusively in the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology’s announcement of the sector-wide reclassification of data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, which significantly bolstered the importance of data centres within the UK. DC01UK, when built, will be Europe’s largest cloud and AI data centre, with up to two million square feet of space, and the location of the data centre brings together the key pillars needed to fulfil the existing cloud shortfall and cater for the large increase in demand expected in future years. This includes a power reservation of 400MVA from National Grid, owing to its proximity to the Elstree (Letchmore Heath) substation and proximity to national and international fibre optic routes as well as nearby Availability Zones in the region. Economic projections estimate the construction value of the project at £3.75bn with a year-round generation of £21.4m in business rates once the data centre is operational. The positive economic impact of the data centre would also see the creation of 500 skilled on-site jobs during the construction phase, 200 permanent, skilled jobs once up and running and a further 13,740 indirect jobs, 10,900 of which would be in the South East. DC01UK is also estimated to generate approximately £1.1 billion per annum GVA (Gross Value Added) indirectly per year. This landscape-led scheme is set in 85 acres of grounds, 54% of which will be retained as green, open space, with a 10% net biodiversity gain. The approved plans also include a suite of local benefits, including the confirmed expansion of the local cycle hire programme, £2m of upgrades for new and existing bus routes, and improvements to cycle paths, footpaths and crossings. There is also a significant financial contribution to local employment skills and opportunities included within the plans. A spokesperson for DC01UK, commenting on their successful planning application, says, “We want to thank Hertsmere Borough Council for their open and pragmatic approach to DC01UK’s plans. They understand our ambition for both the project and the borough. It will bring huge benefits for local people through a stronger local economy, more skilled jobs and better opportunities. Our plans also include a raft of upgrades for local transport, including new and existing bus routes, expansion of the local cycle hire scheme and road improvements. “This approval will also solidify Hertsmere’s status as a leading region in the South East as a tech and media superhub, complementing other established, large technology-driven organisations and film studios in the area. “With planning for this important piece of Critical National Infrastructure now approved, the site stands ready to power the needs of tomorrow bringing a much-welcomed boost to the UK’s digital economy. Our plan will put Hertfordshire at the epicentre of the new data centre revolution, as well as creating £3.75bn for the economy during construction and almost 14,000 indirect jobs once operational.” Minister for Telecoms, Sir Chris Bryant MP, adds, “Data centres are the beating hearts of this modern age, powering the digital infrastructure that we can no longer live without. That is why I am thrilled to see that Hertsmere Council has granted planning permission to one of the largest data centre projects in Europe. “Data centres like this will not only play a pivotal role in our AI Opportunities Action Plan, but drive economic growth through the creation of skilled jobs across the South East.” Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board, comments, “This is a momentous development for our borough. Hertsmere has cleared the way to becoming the home of a data centre which will be integral to serving Britain with cutting-edge technology. It’ll be a piece of critical national infrastructure needed for many generations to come. “The project, which is aligned with the council’s vision, is set to deliver hugely significant growth and economic benefits for the area, creating jobs during and after the construction phase, as well as new businesses. This news clearly reinforces Hertsmere’s status as an extremely attractive location for business and industry, with a reputation that is getting even stronger. “The data centre will provide critical synergies for our significant local film and TV sector, with three major sets of studios in Borehamwood. “The Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, which was announced earlier this month, shows the impact that the AI revolution is likely to have for many years to come and data centres, such as this, will play a major part. “While outline planning permission has been granted, we will, of course, continue to listen to and engage with residents about these exciting plans as more details are firmed up. As I’ve said before, I’m sure local people will see the massive value this development could bring to our area.” Stephen Beard, Head of Data Centres at Knight Frank who is advising on the project, concludes, “DC01UK is a first of its kind. The largest data centre development in Europe in the world’s second largest market, which is perfectly positioned in its ability to service the ever-increasing cloud demand today whilst accommodating the AI needs of tomorrow. A first and great example of the UK’s shift towards becoming a dominant superpower in cloud, AI and general digital infrastructure.” For more from DC01UK, click here.

Chilean data centres to be powered with renewable energy

Atlas Renewable Energy, an international provider of renewable energy sources, has formed an agreement with ODATA, an Aligned Data Centers company and an expert in data centre construction and operations, to power Chilean data centres with 100% renewable energy. A landmark agreement for the Chile and data centre sector, this partnership continues Atlas' commitment to driving innovation in sustainable energy innovations for the rapidly growing Chilean data centre sector - with the company also supporting ODATA's strategic objectives and sustainability initiatives in the country. The agreement leverages diverse renewable energy sources, including solar power, to deliver 100% I-REC certifiable renewable energy to ODATA, empowering the organisation with the flexibility to pursue sustainable growth and expansion in the region. Ricardo Alário, CEO of ODATA, says, “We are proud to partner with Atlas Renewable Energy to support the proliferation of new technologies in this dynamic market while further advancing our sustainability goals. As a leader in data centre infrastructure for Latin America, we recognise Chile's potential as a key technology hub. With its strategic location and AI growth potential, the country provides an ideal environment for sustainable data centre growth.” Alfredo Solar, Regional Manager of Atlas Renewable Energy for Chile and the Southern Cone, adds, “At Atlas, we want to promote the implementation of innovative and cutting-edge technologies, where this agreement with ODATA represents just that - an important advance for the country, but hand in hand with sustainability. It is essential that this industry continues to develop at an accelerated pace, especially in an interconnected world in which we want to be protagonists, and for this, renewables as a way to ensure the reduction of the environmental impact of technological growth are key.” This agreement also fosters innovation and a sustainable energy transition in Chile to pave the way for an emerging and expanding data centre industry. Driven by the surge of cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the data centre industry has emerged as one of Latin America's fastest-growing sectors. This rapid growth is expected to continue as demand for new technologies accelerates. In Latin America, demand is particularly high in cities such as São Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile, where capacity is still limited compared to the growing need for digital infrastructure. Likewise, AI has advanced rapidly in Chile, which is considered one of the regional leaders in AI adoption, alongside governance, infrastructure, human talent, research, and development, according to the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) 2024. Given the significant growth and demand within the data centre sector, Atlas Renewable Energy, with its 8.4 GW of renewable energy projects across Latin America, is well-positioned to partner with data centres in Chile. Leveraging its expertise in solar, and battery storage, Atlas can provide clean energy solutions that support the industry's continued expansion. This partnership will not only drive sustainable energy adoption within the Chilean technology sector, but also contribute to job creation and promote a more sustainable future. For more from ODATA, click here.

Latos to accelerate AI with new edge data centres

Latos today launched a new capability to design, build, and operate a new generation of small-scale 'volumetric' data centres at the network edge. Edge data centres will play a key role in enabling what Accenture has called the 'binary big bang' – the transformation of businesses and public services using AI. Edge-based volumetric data centres enable AI to run faster and safer. Latos volumetric data centres will be built to Tier III standards, comprise as few as 24 racks with unlimited scaling opportunity, and deliver as much as 100kW of energy per rack. This is enough to support the most intensive AI training tasks: training a generative model like ChatGPT needs around 80kW per rack. The new facilities will also reflect the latest net zero building techniques. Constructed from modular components, they will feature high performance power and cooling. Latos plans to design, build, and operate volumetric data centres on behalf of customers across the UK, as well as licensing its designs to partners worldwide. Latos's announcement comes as the UK government reveals plans to expand the UK’s computing capacity 20-fold by 2030 as part of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. It is creating a number of AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) across the UK to help support private investors in data centres and other AI infrastructure. Mike Carlin, CEO of Latos Data Centres, says, “While we applaud the government for its ambition over the UK’s AI infrastructure, a handful of large-scale data centres in far-flung locations won’t be enough. We’ll need more compute facilities closer to end users – and that means the network edge. We’ve designed Latos volumetric data centres specifically to help organisations capitalise on AI. They are state of the art, quick to build, and cost-effective to run.” Latos recently announced it is moving into the construction phase of a 50,400 square metre hyperscale data centre in Cardiff and plans to open a total of 40 data centres across the UK by 2030. For more from Latos, click here.

TerraPower and Sabey reach deal for deployment of Natrium plants

TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company, and Sabey Data Centers (SDC), a data centre developer, owner and operator, have announced a memorandum of understanding to develop a strategic collaboration agreement to utilise advanced nuclear Natrium plants into SDC’s current and future data centre operations. TerraPower broke ground on America’s first advanced nuclear project in 2024, near a retiring coal facility in Wyoming. The strategic collaboration includes exploring new Natrium plants in the Rocky Mountain region, as well as Texas, to support growing power needs for SDC-owned data centres. Due to the breadth of the opportunity, TerraPower and SDC will explore multiple project execution structures to meet the exponential demand in data centre energy needs with TerraPower’s innovative advanced nuclear and storage Natrium technology. "At its heart, TerraPower is an innovation-driven company, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Sabey to address the surging energy demands of data centres with clean, reliable and adaptable solutions like the Natrium technology," explains Chris Levesque, TerraPower President and CEO. "The energy sector is transforming at an unprecedented pace after decades of business as usual, and meaningful progress will require strategic collaboration across industries. Together, we can ensure advanced nuclear technology plays a vital role in securing a clean, resilient energy grid." “Sabey Data Centers is dedicated to pioneering sustainable energy solutions to support our customers’ growth,” adds Tim Mirick, President of Sabey Data Centers. “Our strategic collaboration with TerraPower represents a substantial move toward integrating clean, innovative power technologies into the heart of our operations.” "This strategic relationship exemplifies the forward-thinking collaboration necessary to meet the evolving energy demands of our digital future," notes Jeffrey Kanne, Vice Chairman of Sabey Data Centers and President and CEO of National Real Estate Advisors. The rise of AI and data centres is projected to increase US electricity demand by 323 terawatt hours by 2030. The Natrium technology is the first advanced nuclear technology to be deployed in the US and features a 345 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor with a patented molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can boost the system’s output to 500 MW of power when needed, and can be customised to match specific site needs. The energy storage system is designed to keep base output steady, ensuring constant reliability, and can quickly ramp up when demand peaks. It is reportedly the only advanced reactor design with this unique feature, and is well suited to meet the power demands of data centres. SDC is one of the largest private data centre providers in the world, with over 20 years of experience in developing, constructing and operating data centers across the nation. It has pioneered sustainability within the data centre industry with a focus on whole-building energy efficiency and have a goal of achieving carbon-free energy operations across their portfolio. The Natrium technology is the first mover in the advanced reactor sector and is well positioned to support the dramatic new energy demand for data centres. Natrium is the only advanced nuclear technology with a construction permit application for a commercial reactor pending with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the only advanced nuclear developer to begin construction on a commercial project in the US. The first Natrium plant is being developed through the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), a public-private partnership. That project is expected to be online in 2030 and will be the first commercial, utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the US. For more from Sabey Data Centers, click here.

Keysight launches Chiplet PHY Designer 2025

Keysight Technologies has announced the launch of Chiplet PHY Designer 2025, its latest software product for high-speed digital chiplet design tailored to AI and data centre applications. The enhanced software introduces simulation capabilities for the Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCIe) 2.0 standard and adds support for the Open Computer Project Bunch of Wires (BoW) standard. As an advanced, system-level chiplet design and die-to-die (D2D) design solution, Chiplet PHY Designer enables pre-silicon level validation, streamlining the path to tapeout. As AI and data centre chips grow more complex, ensuring reliable communication between chiplets becomes crucial for performance. The industry is addressing this challenge through open, emerging standards like UCIe and BoW that define the interconnects between chiplets within an advanced 2.5D/3D or laminate/advanced package. By adopting these standards and verifying chiplets for compliance, designers contribute to the growing ecosystem for chiplet interoperability, reducing costs and risks in semiconductor development. Key benefits of the Chiplet PHY Designer 2025 • Ensures interoperability: Verifies designs meet UCIe 2.0 and BoW standards, enabling seamless integration across advanced packaging ecosystems.• Accelerates time-to-market: Automates simulation and compliance testing setup, such as Voltage Transfer Function (VTF), simplifying chiplet design workflows.• Improves design accuracy: Provides insight into signal integrity, bit error rate (BER), and crosstalk analysis, reducing risks of costly silicon re-spins.• Optimises clocking designs: Supports advanced clocking scheme analysis, such as quarter-rate data rate (QDR), for precise synchronisation in high-speed interconnects. Hee-Soo Lee, High-Speed Digital Segment Lead, Keysight EDA, says, “Keysight EDA launched Chiplet PHY Designer one year ago as the industry’s first pre-silicon validation tool to provide in-depth modelling and simulation capabilities; this enabled chiplet designers to rapidly and accurately verify that their designs meet specifications before tapeout. “The latest release keeps pace with evolving standards like UCIe 2.0 and BoW while delivering new features, such as the QDR clocking scheme and systematic crosstalk analysis for single-ended buses. Engineers using Chiplet PHY Designer save time and avoid costly rework, ensuring their designs meet performance requirements before manufacturing. Early adopters, like Alphawave Semi, attest that Chiplet PHY Designer ensures seamless operation and interoperability for 2.5D/3D solutions available to their chiplet customers.” Keysight will demonstrate Chiplet PHY Designer at its DesignCon booth, #1039, at the Santa Clara Convention Centre from 29-30 January 2025. For more from Keysight Technologies, click here.

Schneider Electric named World’s Most Sustainable Corporation

Schneider Electric, the expert in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has been named the World’s Most Sustainable Corporation 2025 by Corporate Knights and, in the process, has become the only company to rank first in the Global 100 twice. Schneider Electric previously topped this annual list of the most sustainable publicly listed companies in 2021 - the same year it generated annual revenues of over $1 billion. Schneider says that the achievement underlines its long-standing commitment and holistic approach to delivering the best environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance possible. “For many years now, sustainability has been at the heart of what Schneider Electric does,” comments Olivier Blum, Schneider Electric's CEO. “For an IMPACT company it's more than just a corporate goal, it's the driving force that shapes our business decisions and inspires our employees. This second title as the World's Most Sustainable Corporation from Corporate Knights, alongside other key ESG recognitions, is testimony to the valuable, long-term positive impact we have.” This year, Schneider Electric’s number one position reflects the company’s leadership in sustainable development practices, such as the gender diversity of its executives and board directors, and its innovative solutions to facilitate energy efficiency, electrification and decarbonisation. Schneider also obtained strong scores for efforts to decouple its energy consumption and carbon emissions from its business growth, and its strong investment in sustainable research and development. Corporate Knights also called out the link between executive pay incentives and Schneider Electric’s sustainability performance and ESG ratings. Toby Heaps, Corporate Knights’ CEO, states, “Schneider Electric's position at the top of the Global 100 index is remarkable. No other company has accomplished this twice. This success stems from Schneider's broad impact that goes beyond its own sustainability efforts. Schneider provides the technology to enhance energy efficiency, support decarbonisation and help other companies in their sustainable transitions.” Compiled by the Canadian media and research company, Corporate Knights, the annual Global 100 index is based on publicly disclosed, quantitative data related to resources, employees, suppliers, sustainable revenues, and investment. The Global 100 methodology uses fixed and variable key performance indicators to rank companies among their peers. Schneider Electric has been part of the Global 100 every year for the past 14 years and in the top 10 seven times - a record for its electrical equipment manufacturing peer group. Being awarded this title in both 2021 and 2025 coincides with the beginning and end of the five-year period of the latest Schneider Sustainability Impact programme. This programme measures the company’s progress across a range of transformative ESG targets set for the end of 2025 and helps it to maintain a focus on achieving both its global and local ambitions. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Pure Data Centres to integrate world's largest 'living wall'

Planning permission has been granted in London for the world’s biggest ‘living wall’. Pure Data Centres, backed by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, will be integrating the wall into the second building on its campus in Brent Cross, North London. Pure DC’s living wall, being installed by specialist firm Viritopia, will cover an area of 7,400 square metres, making it the largest in the world. The current title is held by The Khalifa Avenue in Qatar, which is 7,000 square metres. The largest living wall on a building is One Assembly in Singapore, which is 5,300 square metres. Work has already begun on the site, adjacent to Pure DC’s existing London data centre, which will take overall capacity at the London campus to over 90MW, with capacity to expand further – helping to satisfy the increasing demand for cloud services and AI processing. The living wall will envelop the new structure and will contain more than 750,000 individual plants which will be installed using a modular system. Key functions of the plants are to absorb noise and to help filter out air pollution. The extensive planting area will also enhance the site’s biodiversity by creating important habitats for birds and insects. It will also provide a protective outer layer to the building, helping to reduce solar gain and improve the microclimate. Demand for data centres is at an all-time high, especially in London, which accounts for 80% of the UK’s data centre market. The data centre market in the UK is projected to grow by over 60% by 2029. Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure DC, comments, “The data centre industry is facing a critical challenge of building the digital infrastructure needed to support the demands of global data growth in a way that also takes care of the local environment. Gaining planning permission for the living wall is an exciting step in our effort to meet this challenge head-on. “Alongside our subsidiary, A Healthier Earth, which plays a significant role in helping us to accelerate nature-positive projects like this, Pure is committed to researching and developing innovative solutions which support long-term biodiversity projects and ensure our data centres make a positive impact in the areas where we work.” The project is the latest innovation from Pure DC, which develops and operates data centres that incorporate innovative design features to be as sustainable as possible, using modern and innovative building materials and effective decarbonisation processes. Pure DC conducts Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) on every development to understand its construction and operational carbon footprint. It aims to send zero waste to landfill and remove water usage in operation via closed-loop cooling systems and rainwater harvesting, where possible. Pure has replaced diesel in standby generators with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) wherever it can be sustainably sourced, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 90% for Scope 1. Pure DC’s research and development subsidiary, A Healthier Earth, will oversee the construction of the living wall. This climate-tech catalyst develops, delivers, and operates planet-positive projects. The development of the ‘living’ wall is part of A Healthier Earth’s wider research and development work, through which Pure is placing an emphasis on forward thinking developments and sustainable approaches to decarbonise digital infrastructure. For more from Pure Data Centres, click here.

Submarine Networks EMEA 2025 to take place in London

This year's Submarine Networks EMEA event is to take place on 18-19 February 2025 at the Business Design Centre in London. Submarine Networks EMEA is a must-attend event for network innovators, operators, and enterprises across the region. This two-day conference and exhibition will dive into the latest advancements in data centres, network architecture, cloud networking, automation, and the future of connectivity for businesses and communities alike. Why Attend? • Gain insights from 120+ global industry leaders through keynotes, panel discussions, and technical workshops• Discover the latest innovations in the exhibition hall• Network with over 1,000 senior decision-makers in networking, cloud, and IT infrastructure• Discuss strategies to drive efficiency, scalability, and security in next-generation networks You can register now by clicking here. For an exclusive 15% discount on your ticket, use the code: DCNN15. For more information, click here.