xAI, GridFree, and SoftBank accelerate plans for multi-gigawatt power sites and infrastructure portfolios
The industry is shifting from megawatt campuses to gigawatt clusters, forcing operators to develop proprietary power generation (Power Foundries) and vertically integrate infrastructure ownership to manage delivery risk.
TechRepublic → Data Center Knowledge → Data Center Frontier → Data Center Frontier →
JLL projects $3 trillion investment supercycle with global capacity hitting 200GW by 2030
This defines the macro-economic environment for the next four years, signaling a doubling of global capacity and massive capital entry from traditional real estate and debt markets to support AI demand.
Data Center Frontier → Data Center Knowledge → Global Data Center Hub →
Vertiv commits $1B to liquid cooling through PurgeRite acquisition as AI heat loads stress traditional envelopes
Liquid cooling has transitioned from an experimental niche to a mission-critical infrastructure standard, fundamentally shifting data center design from IT-centric to MEP-intensive (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) operations.
r/datacenter → Data Center Knowledge → r/datacenter →
Entitled land and zoning emerge as primary ROI drivers as Prologis pitches 600-acre Indiana campus
As power and land become scarce, 'shovel-ready' status with local zoning approval has become more valuable than the facility itself, creating a 'moat' for established developers in regions like Indiana and Virginia.
The Register → Global Data Center Hub → Bisnow →
Nvidia demands upfront payments for H200 orders as Chinese demand exceeds 2 million units
The relaxation of sales restrictions has unleashed massive pent-up demand, but the requirement for upfront payment signals continued geopolitical risk and a strained supply chain for the industry's most critical chips.
The Register → The Register → The Register →
Analysts predict 70% DRAM price hike in 2026 as manufacturers prioritize AI server production
Massive hardware cost increases are imminent for server procurement; manufacturers are diverting capacity to High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), creating a significant bottleneck for non-AI enterprise hardware.
Internal warnings rise over 'dangerously overlooked' engineering reviews amid relentless push for faster delivery
The speed-to-market pressure for AI capacity is creating operational hazards; staff shortages combined with accelerated timelines are leading to a breakdown in critical safety and quality control protocols.