UK hosting company UKFast is nearing completion of its £3m data center in Manchester, designed and built by Sudlows.

The facility, supporting 12,000 servers, will provide hosting services to customers that include HSBC, Barclays and T-Mobile. It is due for completion during the year’s first quarter.

Lawrence Jones, UKFast managing director, said the facility will be highly energy efficient. "With the completion of this data centre, we are not only providing carbon neutral hosting but our future plans mean we will be producing our own green energy."

Jones was referring to UKFast’s investment in hydro-electric power projects in Wales, Brazil, Peru and Turkey. The investments were reported by Manchester Evening News.

The data center, located in Trafford Park, is expected to increase UKFast’s annual revenue from £12m for 2010 to £17m or more in 2011.

UKFast said the facility’s design uses modern UPS technology and free cooling.