Evolving to Meet the Needs of AI with VIRTUS Data Centres
VIRTUS Data Centres (VIRTUS) is keen to showcase its commitment to both the UK market and artificial intelligence (AI).
The announcement of a 75MW AI-Ready campus close to London marks a significant step in delivering mega-scale, high capacity data infrastructure moving forward.
VIRTUS is an award-winning pure-play data centre owner-operator and part of the ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Group. Based in the county of Buckinghamshire, the new data centre development aims to be close to the existing UK data centre hub in Slough, West London, in order to meet the rapidly evolving needs of AI.
Continued European data centre growth
The company has four existing campuses in the UK and recently unveiled plans for a second project in Berlin, Germany, to scale up AI capacity.
At the time, it stated that it aims to operate Germany's and Europe’s largest scale green data centre campuses, highlighting a continued commitment towards upscaling data centres and achieving greater sustainability across the UK and Europe.
The current design for the new campus consists of four data centres capable of delivering IT capacity of 75MW to meet escalating demand for robust data infrastructure that is being driven by the rapid increase in demand for AI and cloud-based applications and services.
The site has approved planning and has been cleared in preparation for construction, with building works due to commence Q4 2024 and be ready for service in Q2 2026. It also has a National Grid contract for 120MVA.
Via this announcement, VIRTUS has highlighted its commitment to the UK data centre market, in addition to its continued expansions across Europe to address the ever-evolving needs of customers.
In fact, in February 2024, the company hired a new managing director with a specific goal to better expand its footprint across Europe.
VIRTUS Ceo Neil Cresswell says: “The acquisition of this new 50 acre campus is a significant step in VIRTUS' strategic growth plans. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide advanced data centre facilities in the UK, whilst also expanding our operations in Europe.
“Our focus is to support the evolving requirements of our customers, wherever they need them, and the burgeoning demand for AI-ready data infrastructure. We are dedicated to being at the forefront of supporting businesses on their digital transformation journeys, whilst ensuring that our data centres are built to the highest sustainability standards, aligning with our target to be carbon neutral by 2030.”
Investing in a sustainable community
VIRTUS continues to invest in its sustainability and ESG initiatives, making this new data centre campus both a technological advancement but also a positive environmental and societal project.
The campus will consist of 100% renewable energy that is consistent with the rest of the VIRTUS portfolio. Additionally, VIRTUS has committed to a zero-waste-to-landfill principle during the facility’s operation, aiming to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold accreditation for sustainability.
When it comes to the data centre industry, AI solutions can help manage rising global data demands, alongside ambitious sustainability targets. Combined with automation, AI technology can be a very powerful tool.
Other sustainability features of the new campus include rainwater harvesting and exploration of waste heat use for adjacent farming. Additionally, an annual carbon offset payment will be made to the local authority for ten years, contributing to local environmental improvement projects.
As part of its investment into the local community, VIRTUS will create skilled jobs and work to improve local infrastructure. Likewise, the development will also bring training opportunities to the local community.
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