Amazon AWS: Amazon plans to convert a former Ford facility in Wales into a data center

Amazon is reportedly interested in purchasing a former Ford plant near Cardiff, Wales. According to BusinessLive and WalesOnline, AWS is in talks to purchase the former Ford engine facility in Bridgend. However, it may be a distinct Amazon division that is interested in the site.

According to reports, the site's existing power link to the National Grid made it an attractive option as part of AWS' strategy to increase its capacity in the United Kingdom. Ford's former engine facility in Brocastle, which was constructed in the 1970s and encompasses 1.67 million square feet on a 158-acre site, ceased production in 2020 and was decommissioned in 2022.

The site has 60MVA available, according to property advisory firm CBRE, which is marketing the property. Ford reportedly utilized a modest amount of renewable infrastructure on the property. Existing structures will presumably be demolished for any new data center construction.

The availability of power at the factory site was cited by Wales Online as a reason why potential data center companies may be interested in the site.