Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.
A practitioner guide to the five-level data center commissioning sequence (L1 through L5), covering what each level requires and where developer oversight actually matters. From factory acceptance testing through integrated systems testing, this post explains why developers cannot delegate commissioning decisions to the contractor or CxA.
June 27, 2026 ·5 min read
A developer-focused guide to data center waste heat recovery and reuse. Covers EU regulatory requirements (EnEfG 10% ERF from July 2026), real commercial projects at scale (Meta Odense, Fortum Helsinki, Stockholm Data Parks), and the four site criteria that determine feasibility: proximity to heat demand, continuous local demand, cooling architecture temperature, and utility alignment.
June 27, 2026 ·5 min read
A practitioner guide to dry utility coordination for data center development. Covers electrical service coordination (load studies, utility service agreements, transformer placement), fiber and telecom redundancy, duct bank and handhole design, and the six most common developer oversights that cause schedule slippage and cost overruns.
June 27, 2026 ·5 min read
Three new data center moratoriums passed in a single week in June 2026, bringing the total to 14 states with active restrictions. This post explains what is driving the acceleration -- power, water, and community opposition -- and what it means for developer site screening, entitlement timelines, and capital structure.
June 26, 2026 ·4 min read
AI-era data centers require fundamentally different generator fleet sizing -- Amazon runs 93 generators at 2.5MW each for a single site. This post explains the current methodology: how to calculate fleet size, why transient AI loads matter, fuel logistics at scale, and the regulatory constraints (Illinois Tier 4, Virginia NOx) shaping procurement decisions in 2026.
June 26, 2026 ·5 min read
Direct-to-chip (DTC) single-phase liquid cooling accounts for 55% of the liquid cooling market and is the default specification for AI-era data centers in 2026. This guide explains when to choose DTC vs immersion cooling, how site criteria change, what the two-loop infrastructure requires, and the five specification mistakes that create operational problems later.
June 26, 2026 ·5 min read
As of May 2026, 23 states have approved large load tariffs requiring data center developers to fund grid upgrades, sign long-term demand contracts, and post collateral. This post explains what AI can model, what requires expert judgment, and how to sequence tariff diligence before LOI.
June 25, 2026 ·5 min read
Bitcoin mining facilities with contracted power interconnections are being repositioned as AI and HPC data centers. This post covers the six-stage conversion workflow, where mining sites fall short, and what AI can and cannot do in the diligence and delivery process.
June 25, 2026 ·5 min read
The $40B Aligned acquisition and $280B in hyperscaler capex commitments signal a structural shift from conventional leases to equity JVs, infrastructure fund SPVs, and capital recycling strategies. This post explains the four main deal structures, what PE is doing, and how developers should approach JV partner diligence.
June 25, 2026 ·5 min read