Edged Data Centers Builds for the Future On Heels of Innovative Nuclear Power Partnership

It's been a busy month for Edged Energy, with its vertically integrated, global platform of on-demand data centers. With European operations that are carbon and water neutral, Edged also operates extensively in the U.S., where its facilities are designed to meet high-density AI workloads with a focus on energy and water efficiency. 

As a subsidiary of Endeavour Energy, Edged Data Centers leverages its parent company's expertise in sustainable infrastructure. Let's take a look at the company's most recent developments.

Kansas City Data Center Opens

With a focus on sustainable development, Edged Data Centers' latest facility in Kansas City, Missouri is a 124,000 sq ft, Tier III design that is a showpiece for the Edged sustainable development model.

Strategically located at 3420 North Arlington Avenue near downtown Kansas City, the new data center features 26 MW of critical power availability, advanced waterless cooling availability, and support for up to 200 kW per rack of IT workload space.

Kansas City's central location, access to reliable power, and strong fiber connectivity make it a well-placed hub for data centers, with this new data center enhancing the city's position in the digital infrastructure sector.

The initial investment in the new facility will exceed $140 million. According to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas:

The new facility will employ waterless cooling technology from ThermalWorks, another company in the Endeavour Energy portfolio of companies which is Edged’s parent.

Using air-cooling, each rack in the data center will be able to support up to 70kW. With the addition of the plug and play ThermalWorks liquid cooling technology, each rack can be reconfigured to support up to 200 kW.

The water-free cooling solution has the potential to save up to 95 million gallons of water annually, compared to traditional data center cooling. The facility is planned to hit a PUE number of 1.15 which Edged states represents a reduction in energy usage of 74% in comparison to legacy data centers.

With the expansion of data center deployment continuing well beyond the initial locations considered optimal for data center development, outgoing Missouri Governor Mike Parson highlighted the value of such development in his state, focusing on the key needs of the technology sector in developing new infrastructure, saying:

Edged Opens Groundbreaking Sustainable Data Center in Irving, Texas

Edged also recently unveiled its latest state-of-the-art data center in Irving, Texas, reinforcing the region's status as a key hub for the digital economy. The new facility, strategically situated in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, marks another transformative leap in sustainable data center design and operations, delivering both industry-leading performance and environmental stewardship.

A Sustainable Innovation Hub in Irving

The new facility, located at 505 North Wildwood Drive, brings 24 MW of critical IT capacity optimized for high-density workloads, including AI applications. The grand opening, held on January 16, 2025, celebrated the transformation of a previously vacant building into a thriving center for advanced computing. Local officials, business leaders, and key stakeholders gathered to recognize the project's role in advancing Irving’s economic growth and technological infrastructure.

"I want to thank the Edged team for their investment in Irving and recognition of our city as a strategic location for the rapidly emerging class of critical infrastructure that data centers provide," said Mayor Rick Stopfer. "The collaborative relationship between our city’s public and private sectors, our community’s skilled workforce, and our excellent quality of life continue to attract leading businesses like Edged."

A New Benchmark for Efficiency and Sustainability

What sets Edged Dallas apart is its pioneering commitment to sustainability. The facility consumes zero water for cooling, in stark contrast to traditional data centers that may require millions of gallons annually. Equipped with the ThermalWorks waterless cooling system, according to the company, Edged Dallas will save nearly 95 million gallons of water each year compared to conventional facilities.

The system also enables ultra-high rack densities of up to 200 kW with seamless liquid cooling integration, providing the flexibility needed for cutting-edge AI and cloud applications.

In terms of energy efficiency, as with other Edged U.S. data centers, the facility delivers an average PUE of 1.15. These metrics underline Edged’s mission to build data centers that are both carbon and water neutral, aligning with broader global sustainability goals.

“Together with the Irving Economic Development Partnership (IEDP) and the City of Irving, we’ve transformed an underutilized site into a world-class IT facility,” said Bryant Farland, CEO of Edged. “Our commitment to innovation and sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and we’re proud to support Irving’s digital economy while conserving precious local resources.”

Regional and Global Impact

The Irving facility is part of the growing network of Edged data centers across the United States, with additional sites operational or under construction in Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Columbus, and Phoenix.

Beth A. Bowman, President and CEO of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, praised the project’s alignment with the city’s pro-business mindset. “The new data center reflects the importance of Irving’s ability to meet the needs of our target industries,” said Bowman. “Edged’s investment underscores the value of our dynamic, globally connected community.”

As the data center industry grapples with growing demands for energy and water, Edged represents a paradigm shift. Its innovative design and focus on environmental responsibility may set a new benchmark for operators and developers alike. Edged continues to expand its global presence with nearly a dozen data centers across Europe and North America and a gigawatt-scale project pipeline.

MERLIN Properties and Edged Energy to Build Gigawatt-Scale AI Data Center Campuses in Spain

To wit, in a furtherance of its groundbreaking partnership in Europe, MERLIN Properties and Edged Energy are collaborating with the regional government of Extremadura, Spain, to establish two state-of-the-art data center campuses. These facilities, designed to support the burgeoning demand for generative AI and advanced computing, promise to set new standards for sustainability and efficiency in the data center industry.

A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Extremadura

The data centers, located in Navalmoral de la Mata (Cáceres Province) and Valdecaballeros (Badajoz Province), will each deliver up to 1 GW of IT capacity. Featuring industry-leading innovations, the campuses will boast an average PUE of 1.15, ensuring ultra-efficient operations.

Edged says the project represents a significant leap forward in green data center development, aligning with Extremadura's commitment to leveraging innovation and technology for economic and environmental progress.

"Our mission is to create data centers for positive impact, and we are proud to contribute to the Iberian Peninsula’s growing digital economy," said Jakob Carnemark, CEO of Edged Energy. "The region offers unprecedented fiber connectivity with massive submarine connections worldwide and boasts reliable, abundant, and low-cost renewable energy."

Harnessing Renewable Energy and Cutting-Edge Cooling Technology

The Extremadura facilities will operate entirely on electricity from renewable sources, capitalizing on the region’s vast sustainable energy capacity. Extremadura currently produces six times the electricity it consumes, making it an ideal location for gigawatt-scale data centers.

The project’s waterless cooling system, ThermalWorks, will enable the facilities to operate without consuming water, a critical innovation for such regions with limited water resources. The system will support ultra-high rack densities of up to 200kW per rack to accommodate the advanced computing demands of AI workloads.

Strategic Location and Connectivity

The Iberian Peninsula is rapidly becoming a major global hub for digital infrastructure, thanks to its exceptional connectivity. Spain’s position as a gateway for three of the world’s four fastest submarine cables provides unparalleled access to Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This geographic advantage, coupled with the region’s renewable energy resources, positions Spain as a leader in sustainable digital infrastructure.

Edged added that the development of these campuses will create high-skilled jobs in construction and operations, while driving significant indirect economic benefits for the Extremadura region. By fostering economic, social, and demographic development, the project underscores the transformative potential of sustainable data center investments.

Expanding a Vision for Sustainable Infrastructure

MERLIN Properties SOCIMI, S.A. (MC:MRL) is the largest publicly listed real estate company on the Spanish and Portuguese stock exchanges. The company specializes in commercial real estate, including data centers, and is part of key indices such as IBEX 35 and Euro STOXX 600.

MERLIN Properties and Edged Energy are not new to groundbreaking projects. Since their partnership began in 2020, the two companies have launched data centers in Barcelona, Madrid, and Bilbao, with another campus under construction in Lisbon. These facilities are part of a broader strategy to build the largest network of waterless, carbon-neutral data centers in the Iberian Peninsula.

"Leveraging proprietary clean technologies and a strong working partnership, MERLIN and Edged are building infrastructure for the future," the companies said in a joint statement. "This initiative showcases how other hot, dry climates with limited water resources can use cutting-edge technology to support an expanding digital economy and act as catalysts for change."

Dedicated Nuclear Power Availability Starting In 2029

Last but far from least, Edged’s parent company, Endeavour Energy, also recently announced a long-term plan to partner with next-generation nuclear power provider Deep Fission to develop 2 GW of nuclear energy to power the global portfolio of Edged data centers, with ambitious plans for their unique SMR technology deployment to become available starting in 2029.

Deep Fission is pioneering an innovative approach to nuclear energy by deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) deep underground. This strategy leverages proven pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology, situating 15-megawatt electric (MWe) microreactors approximately one mile beneath the Earth's surface within 30-inch diameter boreholes.

According to the company, ten of their reactors can be deployed in a ¼ square acre, with a  yield of 150 MW, while a three square acre surface footprint will be able to support up to 100 boreholes and reactors, generating 1.5 GW.

Operational Notes

Each reactor will utilize standardized PWR technology, operating at pressures around 160 atmospheres (2250 psi) and core temperatures near 315°C, akin to conventional surface-level reactors.

The heat generated by the reactor is transferred to a steam generator, at depth, and the non-radioactive steam naturally rises to the surface where it is used in a standard steam turbine to generate usable power.

The reactors are modular, allowing for scalable deployment to meet varying energy demands.Geological stability and accessibility are primary concerns in site selection. Once a site is confirmed, boreholes with a 30-inch diameter are drilled to the required depth. 

The modular reactors are then transported to the site and lowered into the boreholes. The design allows for rapid deployment potentially permitting full operational status to be reached within three years from site confirmation.

Advantages

The underground deployment of the SMRs offers several advantages that address normal concerns of operating a nuclear energy plant.

1.       Containment. The surrounding geology provides inherent containment, reducing the need for extensive surface-level containment structures.

2.       Safety. Being deep underground, the reactors are protected from natural disasters and potential security threats, minimizing risks associated with surface installations.

3.       Environmental Security. The 1-mile deep operational depth ensures minimal environmental impact and reduces the likelihood of radiation exposure to the surface.

Deep Fission also sees several advantages to their design and deployment method. The pressurized water reactor (PWR) design is able to build on the years of experience found in what is the most common design for existing nuclear reactors, making use of the same fuel assemblies and the same power control methods (boron and control rods in the coolant fluid).

Other advantages Deep Fission believes their concept can achieve are:

1.       Cost-effective Deployment: Minimal need for surface containment facilities reduces construction costs. Deep Fission is targeting similar costs as to those for operating coal-fired power plants.

2.       Scalability. The scale of deployment will potentially make the power generation suitable for a wide range of services, from on-site, behind the meter operations to direct attachment to the power grid as a primary power source.

3.       Deployment Speed. From site  selection to operation use in three years means that the creation of new sites will be significantly faster than most competing technologies and the scalability of existing installations will allow for rapid adaptation to market demands.

Current Status of Deep Fission

As of January 2025, Deep Fission has submitted a regulatory engagement plan to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and is actively working towards obtaining the necessary approvals for deployment. The company has also secured a $4 million pre-seed investment to advance its technology.

For more information about Edged and its global operations, visit www.edged.us. To learn more about Endeavour and its mission to build sustainable infrastructure, visit www.endeavourii.com.

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