Data Center News Roundup: Blackstone Snaps Up AirTrunk, Millennium Prize Winner Interview

With data center news moving faster than ever, we want to make it easy for industry professionals to cut through the noise and find the most important stories of the week. 

The Data Center Knowledge News Roundup brings you the latest news and developments across the data center industry – from investments and mergers to security threats and industry trends. 

To keep up to date with all things data centers, subscribe to the Data Center Knowledge newsletter to get content straight to your inbox. 

AirTrunk Deal 

There was a Big Deal Down Under this week, as Blackstone announced it agreed to acquire Australian data center operator AirTrunk for $16 billion. 

Following a week of speculation on what would become one of the biggest digital infrastructure deals globally this year, the acquisition outweighs Blackstone’s $6 billion takeover of Australian casino operator Crown Resorts in 2022. 

AirTrunk is one of the largest data center operators in the Asia-Pacific region, with a presence in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It has more than 800 MW of capacity and says it owns land that can support over 1 GW of future growth across the region. 

“AirTrunk is another vital step as Blackstone seeks to be the leading digital infrastructure investor in the world,” Blackstone president and chief operating officer Jon Gray said in a statement. 

Related:New Data Center Developments: September 2024

Interview: 2024 Millennium Technology Prize Winner 

Professor Bantval Jayant Baliga was awarded the 2024 Millennium Technology Prize on Wednesday for his pioneering semiconductor technology that has significantly reduced global energy use and carbon emissions. 

Professor Baliga, a professor of electrical engineering at North Carolina State University, received this year’s €1 million prize for the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), a power semiconductor device he invented that allows for high efficiency and low power consumption in electric motors. 

Ahead of this year’s Millennium Technology Prize announcement, Data Center Knowledge spoke with Professor Baliga about transistors, sustainability, and the future of tech. 

Read the full article to discover why the technologist remains optimistic about the future of energy efficiency in the technology sector. 

New Data Center Developments 

Google broke ground on a new data center in Uruguay, marking its second major infrastructure investment in Latin America.

The $850 million project in Canelones aims to meet the increasing demand for cloud services while advancing AI capabilities and supporting economic growth in the region. 

Related:5 Ways Data Centers Can Help Prevent Data Breaches

In other hyperscaler news, Meta confirmed that Aiken County, South Carolina, will be home to its newest data center. 

“Once completed, the Aiken Data Center will represent an investment of more than $800 million and support approximately 100 jobs,” Meta said. 

“This 715,000 sq ft campus will be Meta’s 22nd data center in the US and 26th in the world. 

Nordic data center operator atNorth announced plans to build its largest data center to date in the town of Ølgod in Denmark. The site, known as DEN02, will have an initial capacity of 250 MW. 

Elsewhere in Denmark, edge data center company Penta Infra is expanding its presence in Copenhagen through the purchase of a second data center in the city. 

In Sweden, Conapto opened Stockholm 4 South, the latest addition to the expanding Stockholm South Campus. Together with the existing facility, Stockholm 2 South, this new data center offers 5,200 sq m of server space and 24 MW of power. 

In Spain, energy firm Solaria signed a deal to build a new data center in partnership with Datasection of Japan. The facility will be powered by renewable energy and geared towards AI operations. 

For an up-to-date list of biggest data center developments, check out our September roundup. 

Related:On-Premises vs. Cloud Storage: Choosing the Right Solution

Other Great Reads in DCK This Week 

Cloud Security Assurance: Is Automation Changing the Game? We explore the opportunities and limitations of automated security assurance by taking a close look at GCP and Azure cloud reports for ISO 27001. 

10 Important Emerging Technologies for 2025 and Beyond. Forrester’s Brian Hopkins highlights AI chips and sustainability management technology as key trends to watch. 

Powering AI: Navigating the Surge in Energy Demand and Grid Challenges. The AI-driven surge in data center power demand will reshape our thinking about energy consumption, writes Nate Walkingshaw. 

Microclouds: The Next Big Thing in Cloud Computing? Microclouds combine cloud convenience with edge infrastructure, offering preconfigured server clusters for easy deployment anywhere, but their future impact on cloud computing remains uncertain.