Data centres as catalysts: Unlocking the next $70 trillion in sustainable infrastructure

The rise of AI has compressed decades of digital transformation into just a few years, placing extraordinary pressure on data centre capacity. Investors are already seeing clients face seven-year wait times just to access power for their facilities. As Tai Hollingsbee, Head of Sustainability for Asia Pacific at GHD, noted, “We’re all participants in this transforming global data landscape, but infrastructure can’t keep up.”

Harqs Singh, CTO and Co-Founder of InfraPartners, highlighted the sheer scale of demand. Projections call for 70–200GW of new capacity by 2030, and building a 1GW graphics processing unit (GPU) cloud alone could require USD 50 billion, underscoring both the urgency and magnitude of this investment frontier. Data centres are no longer peripheral assets but core enablers of AI’s explosive growth, and capital must move quickly to capture the upside.

Hollingsbee put the challenge into perspective, “Ten billion is a lot of money, but it doesn’t sound like a lot compared to the $70 trillion that’s about to be transferred from one generation to another. Or indeed the multi-trillion that’s going to be spent in the next ten years.” His point illustrates why early and well-placed investments in digital infrastructure could unlock outsized returns in an era of unprecedented capital flow.

Singh pointed out that prefab and modular approaches can cut construction timelines by up to 50 percent while addressing labour shortages, making sustainable deployment faster and more scalable. These models reduce carbon intensity and also appeal to ESG-focused capital pools, broadening access to funding.

Sam Benson of OceanBit shared how innovation at the edge of sustainability can amplify value. OceanBit’s offshore data centre concept, powered by ocean thermal energy conversion, eliminates reliance on land and grid power while using the ocean as a natural cooling system. This approach reduces environmental impact and strengthens the social licence to operate, becoming an increasingly critical factor for investors.

As AI adoption accelerates, latency-sensitive applications demand localised computing power. Regional data centres represent sovereign capability. Nations investing in their own centres can bridge digital divides, strengthen resilience and protect sensitive data.

In Thailand, for example, the government has committed more than USD15 billion to AI strategy, including governance frameworks that encourage investment while managing risk. Regional deployments also create pathways for sovereign AI models, giving nations control over how data is stored, processed and secured.

The future of data centres must be tied to social outcomes as well as digital ones. Investors can unlock political and social alignment alongside financial returns by placing data centres closer to the communities they serve and embedding benefits such as jobs, improved connectivity and shared resources.

Investors in data centres are no longer betting on static 20-year assets. The new model is flexible, upgradeable and designed to evolve with technology. Singh explained that Nvidia now releases innovative new GPU chips annually, far outpacing traditional infrastructure cycles. To keep pace, data centres must be designed as upgradeable platforms that can adapt without costly rebuilds.

This Upgradeable Data Centre^TM model maximises tokens/revenue per megawatt by aligning asset lifecycles with the technology roadmap. As Singh put it, “The hardest part to scale is power, and the only way to maximise returns is to have data centres which evolve for the latest most performant chips.” Standardised, prefabricated approaches make this possible, reducing risk while unlocking higher token output and long-term competitiveness.

Innovation also creates entirely new asset classes. OceanBit’s offshore centres demonstrate how unconventional models can open fresh investment opportunities by bypassing land and grid constraints.

• Scale and urgency create investor opportunity: The AI era compresses decades of growth into years, making data centres a defining frontier for infrastructure capital.
• ESG alignment multiplies returns: Prefabrication, modular design and sustainable power sources accelerate deployment and unlock access to ESG capital pools.
• Regionalisation builds resilience and trust: Strategically placed centres enhance sovereign capability, reduce latency and strengthen community social license.
• Innovation accelerates competitiveness: Upgradeable, standardised and offshore models maximise revenue per megawatt and keep pace with rapid GPU advancements.

The AI revolution has placed data centres at the core of global investment priorities, giving investors the opportunity to meet surging demands and shape the future of sustainable and resilient infrastructure that benefits local communities. Investors can unlock the next $70 trillion in sustainable infrastructure by backing scalable innovation, embedding ESG principles and supporting sovereign capability. Now is the time to position capital where it accelerates AI’s promise while delivering long-term value for communities and economies alike.

Ready to translate innovation into tangible outcomes for your next data centre project? Partner with our team to unlock the full potential of modular design, sustainable power and future-ready infrastructure. Connect with us today to shape the resilient, upgradeable platforms that will drive the next wave of technological advancement.