Following more than a decade of pure speculation, GPU-powered servers are finally bombarding data centers. Considering they can consume over ten times the power required by traditional CPU-servers (and reject that much more heat), most data centers in existence are inadequate. There’s a torrent of large language model (LLM) workloads actively looking for homes and data center providers are struggling to even secure the power necessary from utilities to meet this unprecedented increase in demand.
Enter the SINES DC Project – a multi-building project in Portugal being developed by Start Campus that will be complete with innovative liquid cooling technologies to accommodate high density AI-deployments. Originally slated to deliver an already impressive 495MW of data center capacity, Start Campus announced it recently secured additional power from local transmission system operator, REN, the Portuguese transmission system operator, scaling the ultimate built-out to a game-changing 1.2GW.
With this achievement, Start Campus takes the mantle of largest and most sustainable colocation campus in Europe. This milestone marks the first major achievement orchestrated by the company’s newly appointed executive appointments, Robert Dunn as Chief Executive Officer and Luis Rodrigues as Chief Operating Officer.
As CEO Robert Dunn said, “Securing this additional grid capacity marks a significant milestone for Start Campus. The scale of SINES DC, coupled with our unique seawater cooling solution, creates an unprecedented offering that sets new standards for the industry. I am proud to deliver a solution that sustainably meets the evolving needs of our customers.”
The first 14MW swath of SINES DC capacity is scheduled to be ready by year-end. That first building could be scaled to 26MW using the company’s priority cooling method that leverages sea water’s natural temperatures. Subsequent builds will be rolled out through 2030, each capable of providing 240MW of critical power.
The environments will use 100% renewable energy to help customers reduce their carbon footprint and meet regulatory compliance. The facilities are architected to achieve a 1.1 PUE, which minimizes total cost of ownership for its power-hungry workloads that would naturally gravitate toward this haven of vast high-density capacity in a significantly constrained market.
Start Campus, which is located in the Sines Region south of Lisbon, a sought-after destination for digital infrastructure deployment, targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 when fully built out. Total investment for the initiative is targeted to reach €8.5bn when all is said and done.
For more information about Start Campus and the SINES DC project, visit their website at www.startcampus.pt.
