Data center for hyperscale AI with a capacity of 400 MW will be built in Chiba, near Tokyo, by JERA, Dell Technologies and RHAELM as part of an alliance aimed at expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure in Japan. The project involves a $15 billion investment and seeks to establish a standardized model that can later be used to develop new AI facilities in other parts of the country. The three companies formalized their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding. Apollo Global Management also plans to participate as RHAELM’s financial and strategic investment partner.
JERA, Dell and RHAALM promote a 400 MW AI data center
For its part, JERA will provide land located next to its Chiba thermal power plant, the location will allow the development of the project to be linked, data center with a large-scale power supply. The energy company will provide up to 400 MW of capacity for an estimated period of 15 to 25 years. In this way, the project aims to address one of the main challenges for artificial intelligence facilities: having a stable and sufficient power supply to operate high-density computing infrastructure.
RHAALM will be responsible for the development, construction, operation, and financing of the complex, while Dell Technologies will provide the standardized, rack-scale artificial intelligence infrastructure. According to the companies, the complex is envisioned as the largest single-site AI infrastructure deployment in the country.
The complex will begin operations in 2028
Furthermore, the schedule anticipates that the data infrastructure of IA the facility, which will begin operating in phases in Japan during 2028, is expected to reach its full capacity of 400 MW in 2029. The initiative aims to reduce the time needed to develop data centers and simplify their construction through a design that can be replicated in different locations.
This approach integrates land, power supply, financing, and IT systems within a single development model, and would also allow the structure used in Chiba to be transferred to future projects. Yukio Kani, global CEO of JERA, emphasized that the company can contribute capabilities spanning the liquefied natural gas value chain to power generation, thus facilitating the energy supply required by the artificial intelligence infrastructure.
JERA is targeting several gigawatts of data centers in Japan
In the long term, the alliance extends beyond the Chiba project, the companies aim to develop several gigawatts of AI data infrastructure capacity in Japan during the 2030s. To achieve this, the model could be extended to other power plants operated by JERA. This strategy would allow for leveraging existing energy sites to deploy new, large-scale digital infrastructure.
JERA is jointly owned by Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power, its participation brings power generation and supply capacity to the project, while RHAELM focuses on development and financing functions, and Dell provides the technological infrastructure.
Finally, the Chiba facility will serve as the first implementation of the model agreed upon by the three companies, its launch will serve as a benchmark for determining how this AI infrastructure can be replicated at other sites in Japan and, potentially, in other markets.
Source: Reuters
Photo: Shutterstock
