Microsoft Corp. and Dubai-based AI firm G42 are teaming up to construct a $1 billion geothermal-powered data centre in Kenya.
The data centre, located in the Olkaria region of southwest Kenya, will operate entirely on geothermal energy and aligns with Microsoft’s mission of meeting climate goals while boosting cloud-computing capacity in East Africa.
In tapping into the heat naturally stored beneath the earth’s crust, the project will address two challenges: power reliability and environmental impact. Kenya’s abundant geothermal resources make it an ideal location for such an endeavour.
The initial phase of the project will have a capacity of 100 megawatts, with plans to expand to 1 gigawatt in the future.
Kenyan President Dr. William Samoei commended the partnership as more than just a technological venture. He noted that the collaboration is a similar concept among three nations, aimed at supporting Kenyan citizens in the global digital industry, facilitating the country’s prosperity.
Beyond the data center, Microsoft and G42 are focused on enhancing Kenya’s digital infrastructure and connectivity. The key components of their comprehensive investment include the East Africa Cloud Region.
Microsoft will launch an East Africa cloud region, providing scalable, secure, high-speed cloud and AI services. This initiative aims to accelerate cloud adoption and digital transformation across Kenya and East Africa.
Again, in collaborating with Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Microsoft and G42 will boost Internet connectivity nationwide. Their efforts include supporting the development of marine and terrestrial fibre cable infrastructure.
Microsoft’s ongoing work aims to bring last-mile wireless Internet access to 20 million people in Kenya and 50 million people across East Africa by 2025. The companies will develop an AI model tailored to both English and Swahili, promoting local language capabilities, as they finance digital skills programs for Kenyans to thrive in the digital economy.
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft emphasized the opportunity to bring digital technology to the Global South securely. According to him, this investment is of the government and its people. It’s the largest and broadest digital commitment in Kenya’s history.
Peng Xiao, G42 CEO, agreed with this, noting that the establishment of a green data centre and developing AI solutions aligned with local culture, with G42 being committed to sustainable technological growth. “Together, we lay the foundation for a thriving digital economy in Kenya and the region.”
