UAE firm G42 is planning to develop a geothermal-powered data center in Kenya.
EcoCloud and G42 this week announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the companies to develop a geothermal-powered data center in Kenya.
The EcoCloud-G42 Mega Data Center is planned to have an initial capacity of 100MW, with the potential to build up to 1 Gigawatt.
This strategic agreement was signed by Amos Siwoi, CEO of EcoCloud and Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, in the presence of President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya and Salim Ibrahim Binahmed Mohammed Alnaqbi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Kenya.
EcoCloud CEO Siwoi said: "This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and innovation. By harnessing the power of geothermal energy, we are not only meeting the region's data needs but also setting a new standard for eco-friendly infrastructure. This partnership underscores our dedication to a greener, more sustainable future for Africa and beyond."
G42 CEO Xiao added: "In establishing this strategic partnership with EcoCloud, G42 is proud to be at the forefront of combining groundbreaking technology with sustainability. This geothermal-powered data center is a milestone towards realizing Kenya's potential as a global digital hub and fulfilling our mission of making intelligence accessible to everyone, everywhere."
EcoCloud broke ground on its 'Project Eagle' geothermal-powered data center at the KenGen Green Energy Park in Olkaria, Kenya, last year. Sudlows Consulting and X2X Group were partnering as lead consultants for the project. Phase one will reportedly have 24MW of IT capacity over eight 3MW data halls, each containing between 300 and 500 racks.
“The unveiling of a 100MW DC Campus, surpassing the initial 60MW vision, marks a significant milestone for both Kenya and Africa,” said Greg Jasmin, managing director of advisory firm X2X.
G42 is an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing company that offers solutions to the oil and gas sector, as well as government, healthcare, and finance. It is a stakeholder in Khazna Data Centers.
Khazna, which operates a number of facilities in the UAE, recently announced plans to expand into Africa with a data center in Egypt.
G42 is also spending $900 million on building out an AI platform in the US using Cerebras chips.
