SIN01: Inside Portugal's new Sustainable AI Data Centre
The first phase of what will become one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses has begun operations in Sines, Portugal, with the completion of Start Campus's 26MW SIN01 facility.
This project represents the initial building of a planned 1.2GW development specifically engineered for AI and cloud computing workloads. Start Campus, a developer of sustainable data centre ecosystems, has partnered with Schneider Electric to deliver and operate the facility, which became operational in Q4 2024.
Strikingly, SIN01 uses ocean water for its cooling operations, which enables the data centre to run on 100% renewable energy. It was also constructed on repurposed industrial land near a decommissioned power station and harnesses Schneider Electric’s ground-breaking EcoStruxure portfolio.
“Power is one of the most critical resources in today's digital infrastructure. But it's not just about access – it's about managing power efficiently, intelligently and sustainably at scale,” says Robert Dunn, CEO of Start Campus.
“Our partnership with Schneider Electric transforms the way we operate, integrating world-class energy technology and real-time visibility across every layer of our infrastructure.”
Building the future of data centres
Schneider Electric has implemented a range of technical solutions throughout SIN01, including the Galaxy VX Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and SF6-free switchgear, which eliminates the use of sulphur hexafluoride. These are to optimise power use and operational efficiency.
The data centre also employs Schneider's Buildings Management System, Energy Management software, Power Monitoring Expert and Planon software tools.
With all of this combined, Start Campus has been able to secure over 1GW of grid power capacity, an achievement in the European market where power availability limitations have constrained data centre growth. Typically, grid connections in many regions often require years-long waiting periods, making this grid capacity acquisition noteworthy.
The news also comes shortly after Portugal and Spain suffered a widespread power outage. Fortunately, Start Campus stayed operational during this.
With these future-proof technologies designed to support AI, the SIN01 facility now stands as the largest data centre commissioned in Portugal.
Marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital infrastructure, the location of Sines provides direct access to high-capacity international networks and submarine cable routes – connecting Europe with North America, Africa and Latin America.
Pablo Ruiz Escribano, Senior Vice President of Secure Power and Data Center Business at Schneider Electric Europe, shares: “Start Campus's vision for creating one of Europe's largest AI data centre hubs has been unprecedented—and we're honoured to have partnered with them, bringing our expertise from across the data center, buildings, energy and industrial sectors to help establish these new foundations at SIN01.”
Targeting sustainable AI market growth
The partnership extends beyond hardware implementation to include Schneider Electric's consulting services, which assisted Start Campus in developing its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) strategy to source renewable energy for operating the data centre.
Part of these plans was to ensure sustainability was at the core of SIN01’s operation. Portugal offers competitive energy costs compared to other European markets, which is supported by renewable energy capacity.
The project has actually received designation as a Project of National Interest by the Portuguese government.
Regional economic impact of SIN01 extends beyond the facility itself. Start Campus projects the creation of up to 1,200 direct jobs and an estimated 9,000 indirect roles throughout the project's duration.
The company recently announced an €8.5bn (US$9.59bn) investment to accelerate campus development in response to market demand for AI computing infrastructure.
Perhaps most significantly, ocean water cooling technology has been implemented at SIN01. Having only been implemented in limited data centres worldwide, this facility represents a groundbreaking application of this approach – using it at scale for an AI data centre.
The cooling system draws water from the ocean for thermal management and returns it to the sea.
With the data centre industry experiencing concerns about the environment, around power availability and cooling technologies, evolving to accommodate increasing energy demand is the only option.
Such evolution is necessary to support AI growth, while prioritising sustainability.
Pablo says: “This new digital gateway will not only encourage more investment and innovation into the region but ensures hyperscale and cloud providers can leverage world-leading data centre capacity to power their AI infrastructure.”
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