Issue #27

Editor's Note

North America

• Vantage signs 1GW solid-state transformer supply deal with Heron Power

  Vantage has signed an agreement with Heron Power to secure more than 1GW of solid-state transformers, supporting deployment of 800 VDC racks across its hyperscale data center portfolio. The rollout makes expertise in power electronics, DC electrical systems and energy storage integration increasingly relevant for teams designing, commissioning and operating high-density AI data centers.

• President Trump: Data center firms should offer local residents dividends to get communities on-side

  President Donald Trump urged data center developers to offer local residents dividends to overcome opposition to new projects, without proposing a requirement to do so. For US data center development teams, the proposal highlights the importance of community engagement and negotiating financial agreements with host communities to secure project approvals.

• Crusoe plans Spark Liquid modular data center to support latest Nvidia GPUs

  Crusoe plans to begin producing its Spark Liquid modular data centers in Brighton, Colorado, in 2027, supporting up to 3.5MW of compute per system with initial deployments allocated to Crusoe Cloud. The rollout makes liquid cooling, electrical manufacturing, network integration and site commissioning relevant capabilities for teams delivering modular AI infrastructure.

EMEA

• NorthC breaks ground on data center in Geneva, Switzerland

  NorthC has started construction on a 4.5MW data center in Meyrin, Geneva, with completion expected by Q2 2028. The project points to demand for construction, commissioning and operations expertise in Switzerland, including skills in liquid cooling, backup power and waste heat recovery.

• Nvidia cuts AI factory deployment from six months to 14 days as Huang urges Europe to build its own AI

  Nvidia unveiled a containerised AI factory design that it says can cut on-site deployment from six months to as little as 14 days, with worldwide deliveries planned for early 2027. Moving integration and validation into manufacturing facilities puts greater emphasis on factory-based technical teams and coordination with site teams responsible for power, liquid cooling and networking readiness.

• Nscale Loses Microsoft Deal as Power Delays Threaten AI

  Microsoft terminated its contract for Nscale’s planned AI data center in Loughton, England, following delays to the site’s expected power connection. For hiring leaders in the UK data center market, the cancellation highlights the importance of grid connection, power procurement and commercial risk expertise in teams responsible for delivering new capacity.

APAC

• Singaporean tech company Sea Ltd. launches neocloud subsidiary

  Singapore-based Sea Ltd. has launched Sea Cloud to offer its internally developed cloud and AI capabilities to enterprises worldwide. The move extends the work of around 500 employees who rebuilt its platform over two years into an external cloud business, making enterprise service delivery a new focus for its technical teams.

• Hillhouse-Backed TeraNova DC Targets 2GW of India Data Centres by 2032

  Hillhouse-backed TeraNova DC plans to develop more than 2GW of data centre capacity in India by 2032 and has appointed former AdaniConneX executive Sanjay Bhutani as chief executive. Delivering the planned campuses will require teams with expertise in hyperscale development, modular construction, power and cooling systems, and procurement of long-lead equipment.

• AirTrunk Delays $1B Singapore Data Centre REIT IPO and More APAC Real Estate Headlines

  Blackstone-backed AirTrunk has reportedly delayed a Singapore REIT listing that could raise more than $1 billion until potentially the first half of 2027 amid market volatility and uncertainty over US interest rates. For hiring leaders in Singapore’s data centre market, the delay adds uncertainty to capital markets team planning, although the report identifies no changes to operational staffing or recruitment.