Recently, the data center industry has seen significant advancements, particularly with two innovative projects marking major milestones. Teraco, Africa's leading data center provider, has begun construction of its latest facility, the JB7 data center, located at its Isando Campus near Johannesburg. This ambitious project is backed by R8 billion, aimed at bolstering Africa's digital infrastructure. Meanwhile, across the ocean, Spark, a New Zealand telecommunications giant, has won the prestigious "Data Center Innovation of the Year" award for its groundbreaking data center project on Auckland's North Shore, equipped with sustainable features and community-focused amenities.
Starting with Teraco, their new JB7 data center aims to add 40 megawatts of capacity to its existing operations, significantly increasing the Isando Campus's total load to 110MW. This expansion is not just about numbers; Jan Hnizdo, CEO of Teraco, emphasizes its strategic importance: "South Africa serves as a digital gateway for Africa, supported by substantial investments in undersea cables.” The JB7 is not merely another data center; it is envisioned as part of Africa's digital backbone, meeting the rising demand from local enterprises and global cloud providers alike.
Scheduled for completion by 2026, JB7 focuses on sustainability by incorporating advanced cooling technologies like closed-loop chilled water systems and direct free-air cooling. These innovations aim for industry-leading energy and water usage effectiveness, reflecting Teraco's commitment to environmentally responsible operations. Samuel Erwin, Teraco's CFO, voiced his optimism about the project, stating, “The support from our financial partners reflects confidence in our growth strategy and our commitment to environmental, social, and governance goals.” The financial backing from Absa and other institutions enables Teraco to not only expand its infrastructure but also pursue its renewable energy initiatives, including plans for a 120MW solar PV plant to contribute to the national grid.
On the other side of the globe, Spark's new data center on Auckland’s North Shore is turning heads as it integrates innovative solutions to promote sustainability. With plans to use excess heat from the data center to maintain optimal conditions for a nearby surf lagoon, this project truly breaks the mold. Notably, Spark has collaborated with Aventuur, surf park creators, to incorporate this heat exchange system as part of their broader development strategy across 43 hectares. "This project exhibits world-first characteristics of sustainable development," says Matt Ryan, Spark's customer and growth lead, underscoring the project's originality.
The North Shore site will not only house the data center but also feature New Zealand's first surfing lagoon, complete with high-performance sports facilities, eco-friendly lodging, and community amenities. Spark has partnered with local energy providers to create its seven-hectare solar farm, intending to supply renewable energy back to the data center and drive their sustainability agenda. Each element—from solar energy usage to community engagement—illustrates Spark’s vision of decoupling business growth from emissions, which is increasingly important as companies become more aware of their environmental footprints.
Recognizing the environmental impacts of traditional data centers, Spark seeks to redefine industry standards. The integration of community buy-in is particularly noteworthy, as the collaboration with various local stakeholders has garnered broader support. Their approach demonstrates how the data center industry can contribute positively to local communities beyond mere operations. The first phase of the North Shore development is expected to commence work within 2025, with completion pegged for late 2027 or early 2028, showcasing Spark's commitment to excellence.
Looking at cooling technology, another aspect of innovation arises from Macquarie Asset Management's collaboration with Aligned Data Centers. This alliance is striving to revolutionize cooling methods as data centers' energy demands rise, especially with the growing integration of artificial intelligence, which is predicted to double electricity consumption by the decade's end. Currently, cooling systems account for near 40 percent of the energy expenditure within data centers, highlighting the necessity for improved methodologies.
Aligned’s cutting-edge systems focus on addressing these issues by employing advanced air and liquid cooling technologies. Their patented Delta cooling system captures heat directly at its source rather than relying on traditional methods which often waste energy. This technology promotes greater efficiency, especially for high-density setups typical of current server configurations. Aligned has recently introduced DeltaFlow~, their novel liquid cooling technology aimed at the next generation of computing, making it possible to dissipate heat more effectively. This advancement can yield remarkable energy savings compared to conventional setups.
Investment backed by Macquarie has propelled Aligned to new heights, even securing the first sustainability-linked financing for data centers in the U.S. With their sustainability-linked loans reaching nearly $4 billion, Aligned is committed to intertwining development with eco-friendly practices, establishing their stance as leaders of innovation within the data center sector.
Collectively, projects such as Teraco's JB7 and Spark's North Shore data center illuminate the shift toward sustainable data center construction. They reflect how these facilities are becoming more than just hubs for data storage—prioritizing efficient energy use, community engagement, and environmental responsibility. The trend is clear: the future of data centers is not only about technological advancements, but it's also about fostering resilience and sustainability within the communities they serve.
