CyrusOne & KEPCO begin work on 48MW data centre in Japan

CyrusOne and Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO), through their joint venture CyrusOne KEP, have broken ground on their first data centre in Japan.

The hyperscale facility, named CyrusOne KEP OSK1, is located in the Kansai area of the Keihanna Availability Zone, a strategic data centre hub. The groundbreaking ceremony took place today, marking a notable milestone for the partnership formed in May 2023.

The data centre will occupy a 19,693 square metre plot and, once fully operational, will deliver 48MW of IT capacity across 11,562 square metres of technical space distributed in a single building with four floors, housing six 8MW data halls.

The project, which will commence enabling works immediately after the ceremony, is set to complete the construction of its shell and core in the latter half of 2025. The development will occur in three phases, with the first 16MW expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2028.

"CyrusOne KEP combines CyrusOne's deep experience in data centre design and operation with KEPCO's immaculate track record for delivering power reliably and sustainably throughout Kansai over many decades, creating a unique partnership that simultaneously optimises digital and power infrastructure," CEO of CyrusOne, Eric Schwartz, said.

"We are incredibly proud of this significant milestone and privileged to celebrate groundbreaking at our first data centre in Japan with our joint venture partners."

Nozomu Mori, President of KEPCO, expressed similar sentiments. "We are delighted to commence this development project with CyrusOne, who we have great respect for and trust in. We have exciting plans for our joint venture going forward, with an ambitious target of investing 1 trillion yen over the next decade to reach a business scale of 900 MW total incoming power."

Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, also spoke at the event, underscoring the significance of the venture for both nations. "Data centres are the beating heart of the digital economy, and this joint venture between two leading American and Japanese firms will ensure that Japan remains a technology leader while powering the businesses of tomorrow."

"The collaboration between CyrusOne and Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. continues a long tradition of American and Japanese companies joining forces to pioneer technological advancements, power economies, and support local communities."

The facility places a strong emphasis on sustainability, featuring designs aimed at minimising environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. Components such as additional acoustic treatment for emergency backup generators, chillers, and air handling equipment have been incorporated to meet the community's needs.

The external architecture includes concealing features for external equipment to ensure a neutral aesthetic aligning with its surroundings.

The development promises to bring significant job opportunities to the local area during the construction phase and beyond. CyrusOne KEP aims to support the growth of the Keihanna area, contributing to the broader Japanese economy. The joint venture has a robust development pipeline, with an overarching goal to achieve a business scale of 900 MW of total incoming power (600MW IT capacity) within the next ten years.