ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) DRIVING INTEREST IN IDCS

AI has become the defining force reshaping global data centre development. Generative models demand far higher computational density, cooling capacity and energy input than traditional workloads, altering both the economics and engineering of modern IDCs. McKinsey analysis reveals that global capex is projected to exceed US$1.7 trillion by 2030, with AI workloads driving the majority of new capacity additions, leading to unprecedented levels of global investment in the sector

Investors are now prioritising technical capability over traditional real estate attributes—power availability, liquid cooling readiness, energy efficiency and access to low-carbon energy. In practice, data centres are increasingly viewed as specialized “compute factories” where value derives from supporting next-generation AI rather than conventional occupancy metrics.

These global dynamics form the backdrop for China’s policy-led, strategically coordinated expansion.