China: Four mega data center clusters ahead for China

According to reports, China is planning to introduce four large clusters of data centers situated outside the ‘main population centers’ in the north and west of the country. This announcement comes following China laying out its sustainability commitments and key targets as per its 2060 carbon-neutrality goal. 

Basing these clusters in the northern Inner Mongolia region, northwestern Ningxia region, Gansu province, and southwestern Guizhou province, means that the digital infrastructure won’t overload the power grids, due to the locations having good energy supplies and favorable environmental conditions.

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which has approved the development plans, outlined that the chosen areas have abundant wind and solar power, which has informed their decision.

The NDRC commented: "Data centers and 5G are... the most critical link when it comes to saving energy and reducing consumption of new infrastructure,"“Data centres and 5G are strategic resources and public infrastructure that support the future economic and social development, while they are also the most crucial part that matters to the new infrastructure’s energy conservation and consumption reduction.”