Introduction
As digital infrastructure continues to evolve, data centers remain at the heart of technological advancements. August 2024 has seen a surge in data center announcements, reflecting a strong commitment to expanding and upgrading global data infrastructure.
This comprehensive roundup covers the latest developments in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, showcasing significant investments and strategic expansions in the data center sector.
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North America: Expansions and Investments
Meta’s Major Expansion in Wyoming
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is set to break ground on a new hyperscale data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Valued at $800 million, this 715,000 square-foot facility will be Meta’s 21st data center in the U.S. and its 25th worldwide.
The choice of Cheyenne is driven by its robust infrastructure, energy resources, and local talent pool.
A $1.2 billion solar project will complement this investment, generating enough power for approximately 771,000 homes nearby.
This move aligns with Meta’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
EdgeCore’s Massive Project in Virginia
In Virginia, EdgeCore has secured 120 acres in the Culpeper Technology Zone to develop a new 1.4 million square-foot data center campus.
This facility will support 216 MW of critical IT load, with the first phase of power expected to be delivered by early 2028.
This project underscores the growing need for expansive data infrastructure in Northern Virginia, a key hub for data centers.
Google’s Investment in Iowa
Google is enhancing its data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with an additional $1 billion investment. This expansion will further bolster the facility’s capabilities and contribute to local water quality programs. Google’s ongoing investment in this region highlights the company’s dedication to both technological and environmental goals.
TA Realty and EdgeConneX Partnership in Georgia
TA Realty and EdgeConneX have announced plans to develop a 324 MW data center campus in Atlanta, Georgia.
This project aims to meet the rising demand for data services in the region and will significantly expand data center capacity in Atlanta.
Other Noteworthy Developments
- Crusoe Energy Systems is constructing a 200 MW data center at the Lancium Clean Campus in Abilene, Texas, emphasizing the integration of renewable energy in data center operations.
- CyrusOne has obtained a $7.9 billion line of credit to accelerate its data center expansion efforts, driven by the surge in demand from artificial intelligence applications.
- West Memphis, Arkansas, is in the early stages of bringing a $3 billion data center to the area, reflecting the broader trend of significant data center investments across various regions.
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Latin America: Strategic Expansions
Elea Digital Data Centers’ Growth in Brazil
Elea Digital Data Centers is embarking on a $1 billion expansion plan to address Brazil’s surging demand for data center capacity. The initiative includes acquiring two data center campuses in São Paulo and expanding existing facilities. The new sites in São Bernardo do Campo and Tamboré will increase Elea’s power capacity by up to 100 MW, reinforcing the company’s presence in the Brazilian market.
Scala Data Centers’ New Facility in Brazil
Scala Data Centers has commenced construction on its first data center in Northeastern Brazil. The SFORPF01 facility, with an initial capacity of 7.2 MW, is slated for completion by 2028. This development underscores Scala’s commitment to advancing economic growth and technological progress in the region.
Hive Digital Technologies’ Hydro Data Center in Paraguay
Hive Digital Technologies from Canada plans to develop a 100 MW hydroelectric data center in Paraguay. This facility will utilize clean energy from the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, aligning with global sustainability goals and supporting eco-friendly data center operations.
Google’s Reformulated Teros Project in Uruguay
Google has revised its Teros data center project in Uruguay to address earlier sustainability concerns. The updated plan reflects the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility while expanding its data center footprint in the region.
Europe: Significant Moves and Investments
Yondr Group’s Milestone in the UK
Yondr Group has completed the first 20 MW phase of its new data center in Slough, UK. This facility, part of a larger 100 MW+ campus, represents Yondr’s inaugural data center project in the UK. A second building is already under construction, which will add another 30 MW of capacity, enhancing the region’s data infrastructure.
Digital Realty’s Acquisition in Slough
Digital Realty has acquired a data center campus in Slough for $200 million. The acquisition includes two data centers with a combined capacity of 15 MW, further expanding Digital Realty’s footprint in the European data center market.
Microsoft’s AI-Focused Data Center in Leeds
Microsoft has unveiled plans for a £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) data center in Leeds, UK, dedicated to artificial intelligence. This project aims to deploy over 20,000 advanced GPUs by 2026, highlighting Microsoft’s investment in AI infrastructure and its role in the UK’s digital future.
Other European Developments
- Lincolnshire is seeing the potential development of a £3 billion ($3.8 billion) data center, which could create up to 400 jobs.
- AtlasEdge has acquired land for its second data center in Barcelona, Spain, with plans to deliver 10 MW of capacity by 2027, potentially increasing to 24 MW.
- Aruba, an Italian cloud hosting firm, has reactivated a hydroelectric power plant in Melegnano, near Milan, increasing its total installed capacity to approximately 10 MW.
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Asia-Pacific: Expanding Horizons
Amazon and Australian Government Partnership
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is partnering with the Australian government to develop a cloud data system for handling top-secret information. This collaboration involves an investment of at least A$2 billion ($1.3 billion) over the next decade, aiming to enhance Australia’s cybersecurity capabilities.
Telekom Malaysia and Nxera’s Johor Data Center
Telekom Malaysia and Nxera, the regional data center arm of Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, have broken ground on a new data center campus in Johor. This development reflects the growing demand for data infrastructure in Southeast Asia.
Equinix’s Entry into the Philippines
Equinix is expanding its presence in the Philippines by acquiring three data centers from Total Information Management. This acquisition marks Equinix’s entry into a new market with increasing demand for data services.
Keppel DC REIT’s Tokyo Acquisition
Keppel DC REIT is acquiring a data center in Tokyo for JPY23.4 billion ($150 million).
The multi-story property was completed in 2019. It is leased to a major client. The property offers growth opportunities amid a tight data center supply in Japan.
Princeton Digital Group’s Expansion Plans
Princeton Digital Group plans to double its data center capacity in Asia over the next three years to meet rising demand from AI developers.
The expansion will include over 300 new employees in key markets such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and India.
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Conclusion
August 2024 marked a pivotal month for data center developments. Major investments and strategic expansions were announced across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. These projects emphasize the increasing importance of data centers in supporting the digital economy and driving technological innovation.
With the growing demand for data services, these new developments will play a critical role. They are set to shape the future of global digital infrastructure.
