datacenterHawk datacenterHawk

Recently, Damon Lim, APAC Regional Director at datacenterHawk, and Darren Webb, Co-founder & CEO of Evolution Data Centres, had a comprehensive discussion grounded in the premise of sustainability and the latter's strategic approach in high-growth emerging markets in Asia.

A Commitment to Sustainability in High-Growth Markets

One of the focal points of their conversation was the commitment of Evolution Data Centres to sustainability. Darren Webb underscored that core to their business vision was sustainability, well before it became a trend in the industry. Webb analyzed the opportunities and challenges of tier two markets as against traditional tier one markets, including the availability of renewable energy and the prospects for growth in these developing markets.

The Intricacies of Sustainable Data Centers

Webb then went on to dissect the intricacies of establishing sustainable data centers at large scales. The discussion veered around the company’s approach of securing green power via partnerships with renewable generators in various markets. Webb explained the hurdles one has to cross for ensuring green power transmission and the endeavor of the company to influence regulatory positions to advocate for renewable energy usage. Predicting a shift towards green power prioritizing over connectivity in the near future, Webb highlighted the industry's pressing need.

Personal and Corporate Sustainability

The dialogue concluded on the note of the global Evolution of Data Centres, with a particular emphasis on the increasing demand for sustainable practices and the obstacles companies face in achieving their sustainability goals. Webb opened up about his personal commitment to sustainability, including reducing his meat consumption and adopting eco-friendly practices in his daily life. Webb underscored the importance of making informed decisions timely, gauging the available options to reach the best possible outcomes in sustainability initiatives.

The conversation between Lim and Webb offered profound insights into Evolution Data Centres’ strategic approach to sustainability and its influence on the data center industry. Darren Webb’s commitment to continuous improvement and responsible decision-making in sustainability initiatives sets a benchmark for the company's future steps in the ever-evolving data center landscape.

Join us as we delve into an enlightening discussion between, Ed Socia of datacenterHawk and CBRE's Data Center Solutions Executive Managing Director, Pat Lynch, as they discuss crucial developments and future directions of the data center industry. They tackle the challenges of surging power demands, uncover market trends, and highlight sustainability efforts that redefine industry standards.

The Exponential Rise of the Data Center Sector

In recent years, the data center industry has witnessed a remarkable surge in demand. This surge has led to significant challenges and shifts in the market dynamics, testing the industry's capacity to adapt and evolve. This section explores in greater detail how the industry is responding to the increased power requirements necessitated by this growth, as well as the trend towards the development of larger data center facilities. It highlights the strategic adjustments companies are making to accommodate the escalating demand for data storage and processing, and the innovative approaches being adopted to ensure energy efficiency and sustainability in these larger-scale operations.

Unpacking Trends and Submarket Evolution

This section presents an in-depth examination of the data center market, covering a range from primary to tertiary spaces. It highlights the significant influence of key regions such as Northern Virginia and Dallas, which have become pivotal in shaping the industry's landscape. The discussion extends to the critical role of incentives and tax advantages offered by various regions, which serve to attract data center investments. Furthermore, the importance of sustainability practices in the development and operation of these facilities is explored, underlining its impact on the market's evolution. Additionally, the emergence of new submarkets is analyzed, indicating a trend towards diversification and specialization within the data center sector. This comprehensive analysis aims to provide a clear understanding of the current state and future prospects of the data center market.

CBRE's Global Strategy and Commitment to Sustainability

Dive deeper into CBRE's comprehensive global operations in the data center landscape, illustrating their sophisticated approach towards international expansion and their unwavering commitment to sustainability. This detailed overview not only highlights CBRE's dedication to environmental stewardship but also sheds light on the strategic maneuvers and innovative practices that have positioned it as a formidable leader in the global market. Explore how CBRE leverages its expertise to navigate the complexities of the data center sector, ensuring growth, efficiency, and sustainability are at the forefront of its operations.

The data center industry is on a trajectory of continual evolution, with sustainability, power management, and market trends at its core. Influencers like Pat Lynch lead the charge, positioning CBRE at the helm of this digital infrastructure revolution, ready to face tomorrow's challenges.

An Insightful Conversation

Steve Sasse, LATAM Regional Director at datacenterHawk, recently sat down with Ricardo Alário, CEO of ODATA, to discuss the company's progression and expansion throughout Latin America. With a keen focus on Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile, ODATA has established a notable presence in the region.

Ricardo Alário brings an extensive background in private equity and venture capital to his leadership role at ODATA, with a special focus on emerging deals in developing countries. His experience in the telecommunications and data center industry served as a significant asset in navigating the challenges and seizing the opportunities in the Latin American data center landscape.

Established in 2015, ODATA initially faced hurdles in the hyperscale market. However, with tenacity and strategic planning, the company expanded its operations across key LATAM countries. Each country presented unique challenges, such as bureaucratic processes in Chile and the importance of profound local knowledge in Mexico.

ODATA's success in Mexico is marked by its second facility and securing a significant power capacity for future expansions. Even with a slowdown in absorption rates, ODATA remains confident about the growth potential in Mexico.

Alário envisions Brazil not only as an energy exporter but also as a hub for machine learning and AI processing. By utilizing the country's sustainable and cost-effective energy sources, Alário believes Brazil can attract companies that are at the forefront of technological innovation.

ODATA's expansion throughout Latin America bears testament to its strategic decision-making, resilience, and innovative vision. The company's focus on key countries has allowed it to carve out a significant presence. Further, its plans for Brazil underline a strong commitment to both innovation and sustainability, positioning ODATA as a trailblazer in the data center industry.

A Journey Rooted in ExperienceODATA: Growth against the OddsMaximizing Opportunities in MexicoBrazil's Potential: Renewable Energy and AI ProcessingThe Future of ODATA

In Conversation with Industry Leaders

A fascinating video interview occurred between David Liggitt, Founder & CEO of datacenterHawk, and Chris Downie, CEO of Flexential. The discussion spanned topics across the data center industry, focusing on Flexential's unique approach to customer service.

Unraveling the Expertise of Flexential

Downie gave insights into his journey from the financial world to leading Flexential. He emphasized the necessity of comprehending emerging technologies and capital markets in navigating the data center space. Flexential platform caters to a broad range of clientele, from large tech corporations to smaller enterprises, offering tailored scalable solutions.

Navigating the Dynamic Data Center Industry Landscape

The CEO mapped out the notable transformations in the data center industry in recent years. He pointed to an upswing in demand coupled with supply constraints, leading to a rise in pricing. Nevertheless, Flexential has successfully adjusted to these shifts, building bigger facilities and branching out into new markets, thereby maintaining a steady supply.

Flexential Fabric’s Value Proposition

Downie demonstrated the power of Flexential Fabric, a unique software-defined tool that brings together an array of resources and capabilities through a singular connection. This platform simplifies the use of interconnection offerings, IP transport, private line connectivity, and cloud fabric. It offers its customers versatile, scalable, and immediate resource access.

Concluding Reflections

In the realm of data centers, conversations like the one between David Liggitt and Chris Downie are invaluable. They shed light on the intricacies of the industry and the innovative strategies companies like Flexential employ to stay ahead. Downie's insights not only underscore the dynamism of the data center sector but also highlight Flexential's commitment to excellence and adaptability in an ever-evolving digital landscape. As the industry continues to grow, Flexential's forward-thinking approach and dedication to customer service set a benchmark for others to follow.

Reflection
In this HawkTalk, Annemarie van Zadelhoff, Regional Director of EMEA at datacenterHawk, chats with Simon Justnes, CCO of Green Mountain, exploring why Norway is becoming a prime location for hyperscale data centers. The discussion uncovers insights into Green Mountain's operation, Norway's renewable energy resources, its favorable climate, and the cost advantages of operating within the Nordic country.


Background
Simon Justnes, serving as a vital component of Green Mountain, a premier data center provider in Norway, outlines his path in the data center sector and his involvement with Green Mountain since its early days in 2009. Justnes highlights the burgeoning market potential and the company's dedication to customer satisfaction and environmental sustainability.


Who Green Mountain aims to serve
Justnes explains that Green Mountain serves a diverse client base, encompassing enterprise customers, wholesale partners, and hyperscale entities. The company prioritizes offering scalable and reliable solutions for various workloads across numerous industries.


Why is Norway Attractive for Hyperscale Data Centers?
Justnes details why Norway is emerging as a favored location for hyperscale data centers, focusing on the availability of renewable energy sources and an accommodating climate. Norway's dedication to hydropower presents an environmentally friendly option for power needs, while the cooler climate facilitates energy-efficient cooling solutions, reducing energy consumption needs.


Operational and Environmental Gains
Justnes reflects on how Norway's clean energy and favorable climate positively affect operational efficiency and environmental impact. He highlights the increasing demand for greener, more sustainable solutions and the regulatory push for renewable energy. Additionally, Norway's competitive energy pricing offers Green Mountain's clients a significant advantage.


What Makes Norway Cost-Effective?
Justnes elaborates on Norway's cost-effectiveness, pointing to competitive energy rates and a beneficial tax environment. The affordability of land and the availability of power supply make Norway an attractive option for businesses looking to expand. Furthermore, the supportive stance of local municipalities and the Norwegian government towards attracting data center investments adds to Norway's appeal.


Looking Ahead
Justnes discusses Green Mountain's future ambitions, including expansion into Germany and an acquisition in London. While currently concentrated on the Norwegian market, the company is keen on exploring opportunities to expand capacity in existing markets. Justnes identifies three significant industry trends: the dominance of hyperscale data centers, the growing emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency, and the potential for industry consolidation.


Signing Off
The conversation ends with Annemarie van Zadelhoff expressing appreciation to Simon Justnes for his insights into the allure of Green Mountain and Norway in the data center sector. She looks forward to a subsequent discussion to observe the company's progress and industry evolutions.

In our latest HawkTalk, David Liggitt, Founder & CEO of datacenterHawk, engages in an intriguing conversation with Wes Cummins, CEO of Applied Digital, a company making impressive strides in the data center industry. Their dialogue touched upon the company's journey, its intelligent site selection process for power efficiency, and its continued focus on meeting the burgeoning market demand.

The Journey of Applied Digital

Applied Digital has made a significant mark in the data center world under the leadership of Wes Cummins. The company, which initially began its journey as a Bitcoin mining venture, has profoundly evolved. Amidst policy crackdowns on cryptocurrency mining, they swiftly pivoted to construct data centers facilitating Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing. Within a short time, they became the largest data center provider for Bitcoin mining and extended their services to the high-performance computing market.

Positioning for Power: Site Selection and Power Advantage

The company's success is not just attributable to their adaptability but also their fine-tuned site selection strategy. They set up their operations close to power sources in locations with high wind power generation or stranded power. A prime example of this is their site in North Dakota that houses 180 megawatts of Bitcoin facilities. With multiple fiber providers and a beneficial climate for dissipating heat from high-density operations, their choice of location has enhanced their efficiency and progress.

Exploring the Demand and Competitive Landscape

As we dwell further into the age of data, data center demands are skyrocketing, especially in the high-performance computing sector. Applied Digital's capability to offer high-powered, large-scale GPU deployments has drawn several customers. Despite the growing competition, with utilities and power providers being swamped with requests, Applied Digital manages to hold its own. Their robust rapport with power providers and adeptness in equipment procurement have provided them with a competitive advantage.

Striding Towards the Future: Power Solutions and Challenges

As we look ahead, Applied Digital sees a future that will witness both short-term and long-term solutions to address the growing power needs of the data center industry. While the company will continue to exploit locations with abundant power availability in the short term, they foresee the necessity for novel baseload power generation methods in the long term. The exploration of possible solutions like nuclear power points towards an inevitable expansion of the data center market into non-traditional locations with considerable power availability.

In conclusion, Applied Digital has undoubtedly carved a unique niche in the data center landscape with its innovative solutions for Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing. Their strategic site selection, power advantage, and ability to meet market demand have made them a force to reckon with. As the industry continues to evolve, the expertise and focus of Applied Digital on power-efficiency will play a pivotal role in addressing the burgeoning power needs of data-related applications.