Kenya has signed an MoU with the United Arab Emirates for the development of the first-ever data centre to be powered by geothermal power.
The agreement was signed between Kenya’s EcoCloud and UAE’s G42 on Wednesday at an event witnessed by President William Ruto and UAE Ambassador to Kenya Salim Ibrahim Binahmed Mohamed Alnaqbi.
“By harnessing geothermal energy, we are not only meeting the region’s data needs but also setting a new standard for eco-friendly infrastructure,” said Amos Siwoi, CEO of EcoCloud.
“This geothermal-powered data centre is a milestone towards realising Kenya’s potential as a global digital hub and fulfilling our mission of making intelligence accessible to everyone, everywhere,” Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42 added.
EcoCloud is a leading provider of data centre solutions, while G42 is a global leader in creating visionary artificial intelligence.
The project hopes to use Kenya’s vast untapped geothermal potential by putting up an initial 100MW facility, which will be scaled up over the years.
At full capacity, the 1GW mega data centre facility will reduce Kenya’s dependency on fossil fuel, cut carbon emissions and contribute towards environmental conservation.
“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and innovation. By harnessing the power of geothermal energy, we are not only meeting the region’s data needs but also setting a new standard for eco-friendly infrastructure. This partnership underscores our dedication to a greener, more sustainable future for Africa and beyond.” Eng. Amos Siwoi, CEO of EcoCloud said.
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This development in Kenya comes at a time when data centres have faced scrutiny about their environmental impacts. Their rapid expansion in Africa has continued to raise concerns about their environmental impact, particularly in terms of energy consumption, carbon emissions, and waste generation. Over the years though several firms around the world have tried to make their data centers more eco-friendly.
‘’The collaboration between Kenya’s EcoCloud and the UAE’s G42 to construct a data centre will catalyse Kenya’s emergence as a global digital hub. The first-ever data centre powered by geothermal energy establishes a new benchmark for eco-friendly infrastructure and positions Kenya as a leader in sustainable industrialisation.’’ President Ruto said.
