Disseminated on behalf of SolarBank Company.
SolarBank Company (NASDAQ: SUUN; Cboe CA: SUNN, FSE: GY2) is entering into the fast-growing information heart world, and it’s bringing in probably the greatest to prepared the ground. On April 9, 2025, SolarBank introduced it had introduced in information heart knowledgeable Jonathan Martone to assist information its plans to enter the info heart market. Martone has over 25 years of expertise within the discipline, working with firms huge and small throughout North America.
This transfer comes as data centers — the buildings that retailer and energy the web — have gotten extra vital than ever. With AI, cloud providers, and digital instruments rising quick, the world wants extra locations to course of information. That additionally means much more vitality is required to energy these facilities.
SolarBank’s Sensible Step into Knowledge Facilities
SolarBank is understood for creating solar and battery energy storage tasks. The corporate now goals to convey clear vitality into the world of information.
Again in November 2024, the corporate shared its plans to increase into this new market. Since then, it has been taking a look at completely different alternatives to construct or associate on new information heart tasks.
Including Martone as a strategic advisor is a giant step in that route. Dr. Richard Lu, President and CEO of SolarBank, mentioned,
“I am honoured that Jonathan Martone has agreed to join SolarBank as an advisor. An industry leader like Jonathan will bring significant value to SolarBank as he will help support SolarBank’s strategic expansion into the rapidly growing data center market. Jonathan has significant contacts and is one of the leaders in North America in understanding site selection and the components to ensure a successful operation. The growth of data hungry artificial intelligence deployments continues and SolarBank is seeking to help support this demand.”
Although this can be a new space, SolarBank has years of expertise in renewable energy.
The corporate has constructed over 100 megawatts of photo voltaic and battery storage programs and has a growth pipeline of greater than 1 gigawatt. It focuses on neighborhood and distributed photo voltaic tasks throughout Canada and america.
These tasks present clear energy to properties, companies, and utilities.
Who’s Jonathan Martone?
Jonathan Martonea seasoned knowledgeable in information facilities and telecommunications, has helped plan and design tons of of information facilities throughout North America. He now works as an impartial advisor, supporting firms as they construct, plan, and develop their digital infrastructure.
He works intently with personal fairness companies, builders, and operators to seek out good websites for brand spanking new information facilities. This implies taking a look at issues like:
- Does the land have sufficient energy?
- Are there robust Web connections close by?
- Can clear vitality be used for operations?
- Are the suitable transformers and grid programs accessible?
Martone additionally understands how to ensure information facilities can serve huge tech firms like AWS (Amazon Internet Companies), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. He’s labored with main purchasers, together with EdgeConnex, Overwatch Capital, and Form8tion Knowledge Facilities. His specialties embrace cloud providers, fiber networks, high-voltage programs, and energy-efficient designs.
Why This Deal Issues
Knowledge facilities are the guts of the web. Each time we stream a video, use AI, or save recordsdata to the cloud, we’re utilizing information heart energy. However working these facilities takes an enormous quantity of electrical energy. Their fast growth has led to a major surge in electrical energy consumption.
Within the third quarter of 2024, U.S. information facilities used 46,000 megawatts (MW) of energy. This rise was primarily because of the rising want for AI functions and cryptocurrency mining.
AI fashions, notably large-scale ones like GPT-4, require substantial computational energy for coaching and operation. Coaching such fashions can eat as much as 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of electrical energy every.
As firms more and more undertake Ai-Driven options, this vitality demand is predicted to rise additional. S&P World expects this demand to rise to 59,000 megawatts by 2029.
This escalating vitality consumption poses challenges for utility firms striving to satisfy the rising demand. Dominion Vitality Virginia, for example, has 40.2 gigawatts (GW) of contracted capability ready to hook up with the grid. That’s nearly double its capability from July 2024.
Equally, Southern Co. has elevated its five-year capital plan by $14 billion to reinforce electrical energy technology and transmission infrastructure.
The environmental influence can also be a priority. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google plan to run carbon-free information facilities by 2030. Nonetheless, the quick progress of those facilities would possibly outstrip the rise of renewable vitality. This might result in a higher dependence on fossil fuels.
That’s the place SolarBank is available in. By evaluating the construct out of information facilities that use solar power and batteries, the corporate hopes to scale back carbon emissions whereas nonetheless assembly rising vitality wants.
That is additionally a giant enterprise alternative. The info heart market is rising shortly, particularly with the rise of synthetic intelligence. SolarBank’s entry into the house may assist present for cleaner, greener information storage.
By combining its clear vitality experience with information heart planning, SolarBank is hoping to construct a robust new enterprise mannequin — one which helps the digital world with much less influence on the planet.
What Occurs Subsequent?
Proper now, SolarBank continues to be exploring completely different information heart tasks. It hasn’t signed any ultimate offers but, however the firm is in talks with a number of teams. With Martone’s assist, SolarBank will be capable of:
- Consider potential websites
- Perceive vitality and utility wants
- Join with new companions
- Create sensible and scalable designs
Whereas this new route is thrilling, SolarBank additionally warns that there are dangers concerned.
Constructing a knowledge heart isn’t straightforward. It requires discovering the suitable land, getting permits, hiring contractors, and securing sufficient financing. On prime of that, vitality guidelines and authorities incentives may change, making some future tasks tougher or costlier to finish.
SolarBank additionally reminds buyers that they don’t presently personal or function any information facilities. These plans are nonetheless within the early phases.
As extra firms look to scale back their carbon footprint, clear vitality information facilities are prone to develop in demand. By partnering with Martone, SolarBank is making ready to satisfy that demand head-on.
This report incorporates forward-looking data. Please consult with the SolarBank press launch entitled “Data Center Expert Jonathan Martone Retained by SolarBank Corporation to Power Strategic Expansion” for particulars of the knowledge, dangers and assumptions.
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