AQ Compute Partners with NexGen Cloud to Deliver Net Zero AI Supercloud
PRESS RELEASE
AQ Compute Launches AI-Ready Data Center in Norway, Partners with NexGen Cloud to Deliver Net Zero AI Supercloud
- AQ Compute’s inaugural data center, AQ-OSL1, is operational in Hønefoss, near Oslo, Norway.
- AQ Compute’s maiden facility is designed as an AI-ready colocation data center.
- NexGen Cloud is the inaugural tenant with 6MW of AI capacity.
- AQ Compute and NexGen Cloud’s net zero collaboration will power European AI infrastructure.
- AQ Compute and NexGen Cloud are contributing to the decarbonization of the data center sector.
HAMBURG/LONDON/OSLO – February 27, 2024 – AQ Compute, a provider of colocation data centers and built-to-suit solutions with a strong focus on sustainability, today announces the launch of its AI-ready data center in Norway and a partnership with NexGen Cloud, a sustainable GPU Cloud and Infrastructure-as-a-Service provider, to drive decarbonization in the IT sector and facilitate AI computing in Europe. AQ Compute’s inaugural facility, AQ-OSL1 in Hønefoss near Oslo, is designed to accommodate AI workloads and provide colocation services, serving as the backbone for NexGen Cloud’s operations. This collaboration underscores a commitment to sustainability and innovation in the data center industry.
Data centers are consuming increasing amounts of electricity worldwide, and the rapid growth of AI is expected to exacerbate the problem. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that data centers consume more than 1% of the world’s electricity, approximately 48.6 TWh, and emit as much CO2 as the commercial airline industry. The industry’s energy consumption could increase further from 85.4TWh to 134.0 TWh by 2027, driven by the high power requirements of AI applications. Some estimates suggest that the information and communications technology industry’s annual electricity demand could grow to 8,000 TWh by 2030, representing 20.9% of the projected total electricity demand [Source: Energypost.eu].
AQ Compute can support NexGen Cloud’s AI workloads. To become AI-ready, AQ Compute incorporates ultra-high-density cooling coupled with heat capture through RDHX and direct liquid cooling, increasing the temperature the data center can run at and reducing cooling costs and water consumption. As a result, AQ Compute is able to run its ultra-high-density data centers more efficiently, minimizing the clients’ PUE and supporting their sustainability goals, enabling the deployment and growth of AI applications. Using water to remove the server’s heat, NexGen Cloud can improve its energy efficiency while wasting almost no water. The collaboration helps to achieve that NexGen Cloud’s $1 billion European AI supercloud will be net zero, planned with more than 20,000 NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs and providing enterprises with access to one of the world’s most powerful GPU-accelerated platforms.
“AQ Compute has set out to deliver sustainable and efficient solutions for the data center and colocation industry. Considering the growing importance of AI technology, we are excited to cooperate with NexGen Cloud to create a sustainable path for implementing this new technological advancement. We are proud to set an industry standard for AI-ready data centers by providing a modular and low-carbon design powered by clean energy. We will continue to lead the way to a highly efficient and environmentally sustainable data center industry and enable our clients to reduce their carbon footprint and implement the technologies of the future,” said Henry Daunert, CEO of AQ Compute.
Building process of AQ-OSL1
Located in Hønefoss, near Oslo, AQ-OSL1 offers accessibility and high-power availability. Despite its geographical location at the edge of Europe, Norway is increasingly moving to the center of European data traffic by expanding network connections. Access to power from renewable sources and a cool climate make Norway an ideal location for data centers. Due to the availability of clean energy, low electricity prices and cold cooling water, Norway is an attractive location for building large data centers, where 98% of the electricity is generated from renewable sources. As a result, Norway’s existing energy sector expertise can help it achieve a successful energy and climate transition.
AQ Compute and NexGen Cloud – AI-ready
NexGen Cloud will start with 6MW IT capacity, which can be extended to 14MW IT. The excess heat will be reused for the facility, equipment and neighboring plot. The data center is designed as an AI-ready and colocation data center with open space, flexible partitions, compartments, cabinets and private halls with an available IT area of approximately 1,700 m2. High power density blocks to liquid-cooling computing capacity are available. Its large plot size offers space for further data center buildings.
“The AI market is expected to grow expeditiously over the next 12 to 24 months and as such it is imperative to decarbonize as much of the data generated as possible,” said Chris Starkey, CEO of NexGen Cloud. “By partnering with AQ Compute and housing the data created within our AI Supercloud in their data center in Norway, which is powered by renewable energy and cooled with water, we are not just innovating technologically, we are pioneering a sustainable shift in the way AI data is stored. We are not only the first to be doing this in Europe but hope to jointly set the industry standard at the same time.”
About NexGen Cloud
NexGen Cloud is a sustainable European cloud IaaS, specialising in building large-scale HPC and GPU infrastructure, commanding a global presence with a first-mover advantage in Europe. Since its inception in 2020, NexGen Cloud has built one of the largest GPU fleets on the continent, fortified by the ownership of the most in-demand chips in the world, including NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs. NexGen Cloud is on a mission to democratise the accessibility of accelerated compute on a global scale by building a safer, greener, and more affordable cloud. The company’s vision is to become the world’s number one supplier of GPUaaS solutions through its cutting-edge platform, Hyperstack, whilst continuously supporting and expanding future technologies. All of NexGen Cloud’s solutions are built with the aim of tackling three of the main concerns in the current cloud market – cost, transparency, and accessibility.
Please read the entire press release:
in English, in German, in Spanish, and in Norwegian.
Please read more about the news on NexGen Cloud’s website:
https://www.nexgencloud.com/news/nexgen-cloud-and-aq-compute-advance-towards-net-zero-ai-supercloud
https://www.hyperstack.cloud/blog/company-news/nexgen-cloud-and-aq-compute-advance-towards-net-zero-ai-supercloud
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