Kenya in collaboration with Microsoft, Eco-Cloud, and the G42 investment group, is set to begin the construction of a one-gigawatt (1GW) Data Center in Naivasha which will be powered by green energy.
The news was revealed by President William Ruto after he met with Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, and Eco cloud officials at State House.
The facility, which will serve Africa, is a revolutionary investment aimed at advancing digital transformation in the region.
“The Data center that will serve Africa will be constructed in partnership with Microsoft, Eco-Cloud, and G42 investment group,”
“The facility will be a revolutionary investment powered by green energy,” said Ruto.
What exactly is a data center?
According to Amazon Web Services, a data center is a facility used for housing computing systems and their related hardware equipment such as servers and storage systems.
Also Read: Another US Tech Company to Set Up Data Center in Kenya
Data centers are designed to ensure the continuous operation of IT infrastructure, providing a secure and controlled environment for storing, processing, and managing data.
These facilities play a crucial role in supporting the storage, processing, and dissemination of large amounts of data for various purposes.
Details of the Data Center project
The EcoCloud-G42 Mega Data Center, located in Kenya’s geothermal-rich area, will be powered by geothermal energy, with an initial capacity of 100 Megawatts (MW) and the potential to expand to 1 Gigawatt (GW).
These developments in Kenya’s data center landscape are expected to cater to the increasing demand for cloud computing services, digital transformation, and edge computing applications in the region.
This initiative promises to unlock major economic opportunities, stimulate innovation, and drive the digital economy forward, making Kenya the center of technological innovation in Africa and a competitive player on the global stage.
Also Read: Ruto Secures 7 Green Project Deals Worth Ksh 682B at COP28
Furthermore, the data center is expected to reduce Kenya’s reliance on fossil fuels, leading to lower carbon emissions and contributing to environmental conservation efforts.
The center will be the first of its kind in scale and ambition, signaling a new era of green energy-driven digital infrastructure.
By leveraging geothermal energy, the project paves the way for a greener and more sustainable future for Africa and beyond.
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