Phill Lawson-Shanks, managing director of the Nomad Futurist Foundation, and Phillip Koblence, co-founder of the same foundation, discuss the evolving landscape of the data center industry. They dive into the rising demands of AI workloads and innovative solutions to power and cooling challenges. The conversation emphasizes the importance of nurturing community-driven talent pipelines and integrating digital infrastructure education into curricula. They also explore the feasibility of AI factories and the shift to modular designs for future-proofing data centers.

Santiago Suinaga, CEO of Infrastructure Masons (iMasons), leads a global initiative to innovate and promote sustainability within the digital infrastructure sector. He discusses the intersection of rapid AI demand and sustainable data center construction, emphasizing the need for speed without compromising eco-friendliness. Suinaga highlights the role of AI in enhancing site selection and energy efficiency while advocating for renewable energy partnerships. He also addresses the talent shortage in the industry and introduces new platforms to bridge this gap.

In this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show podcast, Matt Vincent, Editor-in-Chief of Data Center Frontier, talks to Craig Compiano, CEO of Modius, about how data centers are evolving to meet modern demands, specifically in terms of scalability, security and intelligence. They also discuss Modius’s commitment to enabling the next generation of data centers with scalable and secure solutions.

Andrew Lindsey, Co-Founder and CEO of Flexnode, dives into the transformative world of modular data centers. He explains how the industry is evolving to meet the demands of AI, highlighting the growing trend of high-density liquid-cooled solutions. Lindsey shares insights on the challenges and opportunities for integrating more sustainable and efficient hybrid cooling methods. He also discusses innovative power solutions and the evolving relationship between data centers and utility companies, all while emphasizing the need for flexibility in infrastructure design.

The latest episode of the DCF Show podcast addresses one of the most critical challenges facing the data center industry: the search for sustainable, high-density power solutions. As hyperscale operators like Google and Meta face growing energy demands and resistance from utilities unable or unwilling to support their expansion, the conversation around nuclear energy has gained momentum. Both established nuclear providers and innovative startups are vying for the data center industry's future business, each offering distinct approaches. Our guest, Matt Loszak, co-founder and CEO of Aalo Atomics, shares insights into his company's fresh approach to nuclear energy. Aalo Atomics, which raised $29.5 million in Series A funding in 2024, has developed a 10-megawatt sodium-cooled reactor that eliminates the need for water cooling, offering greater siting flexibility. Inspired by the Department of Energy’s MARVEL microreactor, Aalo’s design benefits from direct expertise, as the company’s CTO was the chief architect behind MARVEL. Aalo’s vision extends beyond reactor design to full-scale modular plant production. Rather than simply building reactors, the company aims to manufacture complete nuclear plants using prefabricated, modular components that can be shipped in standard containers. These plants are designed to fit within the footprint of a data center and require no onsite water—features that make them especially attractive to hyperscale operators seeking localized, high-density power. Aalo has made significant progress, with the Department of Energy identifying Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as a potential site for its first nuclear facility. The company is on an accelerated timeline, planning to complete a non-nuclear prototype within three months and break ground on its first reactor in about a year—remarkably fast for the nuclear sector. Aalo’s modular nuclear power solution for data centers is designed to deliver 50 megawatts, using a sodium-cooled reactor inspired by the MARVEL microreactor at INL. “In just 30 months, Marvel became the first reactor the DOE has ever authorized for construction,” said Loszak. Aalo has brought in key members from the Marvel project, including its chief architect, to speed up development. During our conversation, Loszak discusses the implications of this new wave of nuclear innovation, including the shifting stance of the Trump administration on nuclear energy, the evolving economics of nuclear power (where past projects faced cost overruns and delays), and common misconceptions about nuclear safety, such as fears of reactor meltdowns and waste management.

Adib Nasli, Co-founder and CEO of Zendee, discusses the growing energy demands of data centers, particularly due to AI advancements. He explores how Microgrids and Distributed Energy Resources can relieve pressure from traditional grids. Nasli emphasizes the future role of Small Modular Reactors in providing reliable energy with a low carbon footprint. He also shares insights on optimizing energy investments, achieving massive operational cost reductions, and showcasing real-world examples from Santa Clara and Ashburn that illustrate these innovative solutions.

Alan Farrimond, Vice President of Data Center Solutions at Wesco, is a sustainability expert, while Andrew Jimenez, Senior Director of Technical Sales at Wesco, specializes in advanced cooling technologies. They dive into the urgent need for next-generation data centers driven by high-performance computing and AI. The duo discusses how software-defined technologies enhance operational efficiency and tackle workforce challenges. They also explore innovative cooling solutions, energy strategies, and the paramount importance of sustainability in future data center designs.

Phill Lawson-Shanks, Chief Innovation Officer at Aligned Data Centers, dives deep into the future of the data center industry. He discusses the vital role of sustainable practices and carbon tracking, highlighting Aligned's leadership in this area. Lawson-Shanks also explores the potential of small modular reactors to meet energy demands, especially as the market evolves. Additionally, he shares insights on the rapid expansion into Latin America and the challenges of adapting to AI advancements and high-density computing needs.

Recorded last December, for this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show Podcast, DCF Editor in Chief Matt Vincent spoke with Vantage Data Centers' North American President Dana Adams, and Katilin Monaghan, Vantage Data Centers' North American Public Policy Director. As president of Vantage Data Centers’ North America business, Dana Adams oversees market development, sales, construction and operations across the United States and Canada. With nearly 18 years of experience in the data center sector, Adams has a track record of successfully leading high-growth companies and diverse teams at scale. Prior to joining Vantage, Adams was the Chief Operating Officer for AirTrunk, the hyperscale data center giant serving the Asia-Pacific region. She was responsible for scaling operations, service delivery and customer success from one to five countries and established other critical business capabilities, including award-winning people, culture and sustainability programs, as the company grew from $3 to $10 billion. Earlier in her career, Adams served as vice president and general manager at Iron Mountain where she helped drive nearly $2 billion in growth through global acquisitions and development projects. In addition, she held several leadership positions at Digital Realty, including vice president of portfolio management, where she oversaw $3 billion in data center assets. Considered to be one of the most influential female executives in the industry, Adams was recognized by Data Economy on its power women list in 2019. She was a finalist in the 2020 and 2022 PTC awards as an outstanding female executive, an Infrastructure Masons (IM) 2022 award recipient and was recently featured by InterGlobix Magazine as an Inspiring Woman in Leadership. Adams earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a Master of Business Administration from Simmons University. Kaitlin Monaghan serves as the Director of Public Policy, North America, for Vantage Data Centers. In this role, she is responsible for leading a public policy program to support the company’s North American business. Monaghan partners with site selection, sustainability, tax, legal, energy and construction stakeholders to develop and advocate for Vantage’s position on a multitude of issues in current and future markets.  Prior to joining Vantage, Monaghan held public policy roles at Rivian Automotive and the American Clean Power Association where she managed legislative, regulatory and economic development matters at all levels of government. She also serves as Energy and Environment Co-Chair for the Data Center Coalition (DCC). A Florida native, she is a graduate of the University of Florida with a B.S. in Environmental Science and has a law degree from Florida State University College of Law with a concentration in Energy Law. Podcast Talk on the podcast kicks off with a framing of Vantage Data Centers' recently announced $2 billion investment in a new data center campus in New Albany, Ohio in the environs of Tier 2 industry hotspot Columbus, focusing on sustainability and efficiency. The discussion touches on how the Ohio market is becoming increasingly relevant for data centers due to strong connectivity and power availability, with most major hyperscalers already investing in the region.  Along the way, we learn how Vantage's new campus in New Albany will utilize a sustainable design aimed at achieving LEED Silver certification, emphasizing low power usage effectiveness (PUE) and waterless cooling systems. The discussion also examines how partnerships with local organizations, such as the New Albany Community Foundation and Columbus State Community College Foundation, will support workforce development and community engagement.  Vantage's Adams and Monaghan also speak on how continued collaboration with utilities and policymakers is essential to address power generation challenges while supporting future data center industry growth in North America. Here's a timeline of the interview's key moments: Dana Adams shares insights on how her experience as COO of Air Trunk in Sydney informs her current role, focusing on scaling hyperscale data centers in North America. 1:36 Kaitlin Monaghan discusses her background in energy law and highlights her focus on renewable energy policy. 3:57 Investment trends in Ohio's data center market are discussed. Connectivity and power availability are identified as key factors. 7:11 The forthcoming OH1 data center campus is discussed. It will cover 70 acres and focus on sustainability. 9:57 The 200 megawatt campus will be built in phases. The first phase is set to open in late 2025. 10:37 Sustainable design principles are emphasized in the project. The design aims for low power usage effectiveness and minimal water usage. 11:31 Innovations in Ohio are discussed. The focus is on signal innovations for deployment. 13:00 Sustainable fuels integration is highlighted. Collaboration across the industry is emphasized to increase demand. 13:30 Challenges with new chip designs are addressed. Maximizing efficiency with GPUs in data centers is a key concern. 14:01 Partnerships with local organizations are discussed. Workforce development is emphasized as a key focus. 14:48 The importance of community engagement is highlighted. Vantage's long-term commitment to local hiring is noted. 15:19 Trends in workforce development within the data center industry are analyzed. The significance of workforce as a pillar of sustainability is mentioned. 16:43 Insights into Vantage Data Centers' growth are shared. Anticipation for 2025 includes a focus on infrastructure and workforce needs. 17:49 Challenges in power generation and transmission are addressed. Engagement with utilities and policymakers is emphasized for future growth. 19:54

For this episode of the recurring Data Center Frontier/Nomad Futurist field report podcast series -- aka "Nomads at the Frontier" -- DCF Editor In Chief Matt Vincent checked in for a fun yet informative discussion with Nomad Futurist Foundation Co-Founders Phillip Koblence and Nabeel Mahmood from the grounds of PTC'25, the annual telecom and data center industry conference put on by the Pacific Telecommunications Council in Hawaii, which has become one of the sector's most important live events. Podcast Series Nomad Futurist is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established, per its mission statement, "to demystify the world of digital infrastructure and the related technologies that impact every aspect of our daily lives."  Committed to educating youth in underprivileged communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and opening up opportunities for growth and new career paths, the group says its "primary focus is to empower and inspire younger generations through exposure to the underlying technologies that power our digital world."  Nomad Futurist is known for appointing individuals throughout the data center industry to its ranks of Ambassadors and Advisors, who work to promote the organization's ethos and goals in their professional spheres. The group's members are a pervasive presence in the data center sector, to be found in attendance and presenting at most industry events in the U.S. and abroad. The purpose of the Data Center Frontier/Nomad Futurist joint podcast series is therefore to gather valuable industry insights, expertise and commentary from Nomad Futurist leaders and ambassadors, firsthand and in the field, as they participate in these events.  PTC'25 PTC'25 in Honolulu attracted over 10,000 attendees, highlighting a significant data center presence alongside telecommunications. As revealed in the course of the podcast, key data center topics at this year's PTC included artificial intelligence, power demands, and the integration of natural gas as a bridge for energy needs.  Importantly at this year's PTC, the Nomad Futurist Foundation announced the launch of the Nomad Futurist Academy and an associated job board in furtherance of its mission to enhance career pathways in the data center industry.  During the course of the talk, emphasis was also placed on on the value of "organic networking," with the Futurists advising on the strategic need to balance scheduled meetings with informal interactions at such industry events.  Here's a timeline of the podcast's key moments: PTC'25 Event Overview - The event is noted as one of the largest in years; attendance in Honolulu is reported at over 10,000 individuals. 2:11 - A significant data center presence is highlighted at the event. The program's integration of telecommunications and data center sectors is emphasized. 2:33 - Questions about the logistics of the event are addressed. 3:39 Meeting Intensity at PTC'25 - Nomad Futurist held more than 40 meetings at this year's PTC. The meetings occurred over three days. 4:08 - High levels of physical activity were noted. Walking 10,000 to 30,000 steps a day was common, notes Mahmood. 4:36 - The five-year anniversary of the Nomad Futurist initiative was celebrated at this year's PTC. 6:01 Nomad Futurist Academy Launch  - The Nomad Futurist job board highlighting data center career pathways is mentioned as upcoming news for the Foundation. 6:16 - Discussion turns to power demands in data centers, as discussed at the event. The shift in baseline power requirements from 10-20 megawatts to over 100 megawatts is highlighted. 7:01 - AI and its implications for power needs are explored. Conversation touches on large language models and their impact on efficiency ratios. 9:11 Global Networking at PTC'25  - A significant percentage of PTC attendees are from the United States. Approximately 45-46% of attendees are American, with the rest coming from around the world. 11:25 - The event in Hawaii is praised for its renowned industry networking opportunities. 13:28 - In-person interactions at conferences are emphasized as invaluable. The importance of networking and organic conversations is highlighted as crucial for setting the pace for the year. 13:47