Thursday, June 20, 2024 12:01 PM
London’s Royal Docks in Newham will house a new data centre, fueling the capital’s rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI).
Ada Infrastructure, the data center arm of GLP Capital Partners (GCP), has been granted planning permission by the Newham Strategic Development Committee to develop a data center campus in London’s Royal Docks, close to the Excel centre.
This 210-megawatt Docklands data center will be one of the largest in the capital, with three 70-megawatt buildings and a multi-purpose community facility that will provide vocational training programs.
“This new data center development embodies our commitment to driving positive change through the use of sustainable technology and materials, a robust environmental, health and safety program and a continued investment in the communities where we work and live,” said Jennifer Weitzel, President from Ada Infrastructure.
The approval follows Labour’s technology manifesto unveiled last week, which includes classifying data centers as nationally important infrastructure projects. Labor aims to tackle the current shortage and meet growing demand for cloud computing and AI through planning reforms.
Weitzel added: “In addition to working with local partners to provide vocational training and employment opportunities, the project’s future-proof design, including energy-efficient systems, net-positive landscaping and strict physical and cybersecurity protocols, will set new standards for secure and cybersecurity . sustainable development in the age of AI.”
The data center will use energy solutions such as air and liquid cooling systems that do not rely on large amounts of water, and low-carbon building materials. The campus will also be integrated with a district heating system for more efficient energy consumption.
It is designed to support large AI applications and meet the power and cooling demands of urban enterprises’ increasing AI workloads.
Robert De Jong, Director of the Royal Docks Center for Sustainability, said: “We are pleased to see the significant improvements to the public realm which will greatly benefit those who live, work and study in the local area, as a result of the new data campus.
“These proposals are very sustainable, in line with [University of East London’s] own values, and have evolved to improve the design and architectural approach, as well as improve access to public spaces,” he added.
The plans include improved paths for pedestrians and cyclists along the River Thames.
Nick Cook, president of GCP Europe, said: “We are excited to see our vision for a large-scale data center come to life in Docklands. We will continue to leverage our significant footprint across Europe to support the growth of our data center and clean energy strategies.”