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B. Grimm Power and Digital Edge to Invest $1 Billion in Thailand Data Centre

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Thai energy firm B. Grimm Power Pcl and Singapore-based digital infrastructure company Digital Edge announced a joint investment of $1 billion to build a 100-megawatt data centre in Thailand. This project aims to meet rising demand for digital infrastructure powered by clean energy, driven in part by surging interest in artificial intelligence technologies across Southeast Asia.

Thailand, the region’s second-largest economy, has become a hotspot for tech giants investing heavily in data centres. Notably, TikTok’s parent company Bytedance plans to invest $8.8 billion over five years, while Google is also preparing to launch a $1 billion data centre facility in the country. Earlier this year, Thailand’s investment board approved $3 billion in investments specifically targeted at data centres and energy projects.

Microsoft last year announced plans for its first regional data centre in Thailand, further solidifying the country’s status as a growing digital hub.

B. Grimm Power and Digital Edge said construction will be “fast-tracked” to have the data centre operational by the fourth quarter of 2026, catering to global tech firms looking to expand AI infrastructure in Southeast Asia. Harald Link, Group President of B. Grimm Power, highlighted the synergy between renewable energy and advanced data centre technology, stating the project will support Thailand’s transformation into a regional AI and cloud innovation centre.

Amazon to Invest $4 Billion in Cloud Infrastructure in Chile, Eyes 2026 Launch

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) will invest $4 billion to build its first data centers in Chile, establishing a dedicated cloud region that is set to go live by the second half of 2026, the company confirmed in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday.

This marks AWS’s third cloud region in Latin America, after Brazil and Mexico, and reflects the tech giant’s continued push to expand its generative AI and cloud services footprint across high-growth emerging markets.

“All the necessary permits have been approved,” said Juan Pablo Estevez, AWS’s head of South Latin America, who emphasized the project’s potential to provide “substantial computing power” to local and regional businesses.

Environmental Considerations

AWS’s expansion comes amid concerns over the environmental impact of data centers in drought-stricken Chile, where Google was forced to revise a $200 million data center plan due to environmental backlash last year.

  • Estevez noted that AWS’s Chile facilities will use water-based cooling for only 4% of the year, equivalent to the consumption of just eight households over 15 years.

  • The remaining cooling needs will be met through air and evaporation-based technologies.

  • AWS has also matched 100% of its energy use with renewable sources since 2023.

Market Outlook and Growth

Despite AWS’s recent cloud revenue falling short of Wall Street forecasts, Estevez remains bullish on the regional outlook:

  • Chile’s cloud market is projected to grow 20.3% annually through 2028

  • Valued at $1.5 billion in 2023, it is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2025

AWS already serves regional clients like Cencosud, MercadoLibre, and various mining companies, and will now compete directly with Microsoft Azure, whose Chilean center is set to go live this year.

Globally, Amazon operates 36 cloud regions and 114 availability zones, powering key enterprise services for companies like Netflix, Sony, and General Electric.

Equinix Malaysia Explores Alternative Energy Ahead of July Tariff Hike Amid Data Center Expansion

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Equinix Malaysia, the local arm of global data center operator Equinix, is evaluating alternative energy providers to mitigate the impact of a 14.2% electricity tariff increase set to take effect in July, the company said on Wednesday. The tariff hike is expected to significantly raise operational costs, especially for energy-intensive data center operations.

Cheam Tat Inn, managing director of Equinix Malaysia, stated during a media walkabout at the Cyberjaya data center—now completing its second phase—that the company is actively engaging with renewable energy providers, although specific sources and timelines have not been disclosed.

Equinix currently operates two facilities in Malaysia:

  • Cyberjaya with a capacity of 4.8 megawatts (MW)

  • Johor with 2.4 MW, which is fully subscribed following its launch in May 2023.

Cheam added that customer occupancy at the Cyberjaya site is rising rapidly, underscoring strong regional demand for digital infrastructure.

Malaysia is in the midst of a data center boom, with forecasts projecting a fourfold increase in facilities over the next decade from the current 18, collectively demanding over 800MW of electricity. The surge is largely driven by the growing demand for AI and cloud services, with tech giants such as Microsoft, Nvidia, Google, ByteDance, and Oracle investing billions in the country.

Equinix has also been aggressively expanding across Southeast Asia, acquiring three data centers in the Philippines last year and maintaining operations in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore as it positions itself to tap into the region’s digital growth trajectory.