January 02, 2026

Top news (3)

1. Malaysia: grid/power demand and renewables pipeline accelerating

• Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has agreements for 49 data centre projects that could require up to 7 GW of electricity demand; Malaysia’s CRESS committed capacity reached 1.3 GW (as of June 2025). The government is also preparing LSS6 solar tenders that could add up to 2 GW and create RM6 billion in construction jobs. See: Malaysia ramps up LSS6 solar and CRESS for data centres.

2. Sweden: SMR development at Ringhals with new equity funding

• Vattenfall and Industrikraft i Sverige AB agreed to co-invest to advance a 1,500 MW SMR project at Ringhals; Industrikraft will take a 20% stake in Videberg Kraft AB and invest SEK 400 million (~$42.2m), contingent on state risk-sharing. See: Vattenfall and Industrikraft advance SMRs at Ringhals site.

3. US: environmental permitting and “behind-the-meter” constraints remain central

• Ohio EPA extended comments to Jan 16 on a draft general wastewater permit for new data centres that would allow treated wastewater discharge under NPDES-style language referencing a “lowering of water quality.” See: Ohio EPA considers permit allowing data center wastewater discharge.

Key deals & projects (data centres, telecoms, and large energy contracts)

Corporate renewable procurement (data-centre linked)

• TotalEnergies signed a 15-year PPA to supply 1.5 TWh to Google’s Ohio data centers. Details are included in: Vattenfall and Industrikraft advance SMRs at Ringhals site.

Site redevelopment theme (power + data centre)

• Plans are being discussed to convert the retired Homer City coal plant site (Pennsylvania) into a gas-fired power plant and data center, with concerns raised about grid and community impacts. See: Pennsylvania 2025: Mineland Reforestation, Coal Plant Data Center.

Private wireless (port / industrial connectivity)

• Grand Port Maritime de Marseille awarded ORAXIO TELECOM SOLUTIONS an EUR 85,500 contract for a feasibility study on deploying private 5G and LoRa. Contract concluded 15/12/2025; study period 01/09/2025–01/09/2026; award weighting Quality 60% / Price 40%; 14 electronic tenders received. See: Marseille port commissions study for private 5G and LoRa.

Power, grid, and interconnection highlights

Equipment bottleneck: transformers

• Wood Mackenzie / POWER report an ongoing US transformer deficit in 2025: ~30% shortfall for power transformers and ~10% for distribution units, despite ~$1.8–$2.0bn in new North American manufacturing investments by firms including Hitachi Energy, Siemens Energy, and Eaton. A broker (Bolt Electrical LLC) disputes the framing, citing standard-unit delivery in 12–14 months and 12%–15% service margin. See: U.S. transformer shortage persists despite major factory investments.

Grid resilience / behind-the-meter architecture

• Distributed energy resources (DERs), microgrids, and BESS are being positioned as reliability tools; SDG&E launched four microgrids and utilities are exploring VPPs and demand response. Analysts project the global BESS market could reach $120–$150bn by 2030 (over $30bn in the US). See: Distributed energy resources boost grid resilience and reliability.

Technical design note relevant to data-centre distribution

• Guidance highlighted a common preference for Delta-primary / Wye-secondary (D/y) transformer configurations in many commercial/industrial/data-centre settings for harmonic noise suppression and a grounded neutral. The piece also contrasts dry-type vs liquid-filled transformers, noting ranges such as cast-resin dry-type up to 36 kV / 40 MVA and liquid-filled spanning 6 kV–1,500 kV and >1,000 MVA. See: Selecting the Right Three-Phase Transformer Configuration for Distribution.

Forward-looking demand commentary (AI load)

• Industry forecasts emphasize uncertain but potentially large AI-driven load growth; examples cited include the Hale Kuawehi 30 MW PV + 30 MW/120 MWh project, IEA’s 3.68 TW solar projection by 2030, National Grid’s £35bn supply-chain investment, and Dominion’s $2.1bn transmission spend last year. See: Industry leaders map power sector challenges and opportunities 2026.

Policy & regulation (permitting, incentives, and nuclear)

US: state-level broadband + data-centre incentives

• State legislatures considered 600+ broadband bills in 2025; fewer than 140 became law. Enacted measures emphasized permitting, pole/ROW access, penalties for theft/vandalism, state broadband funding, and incentives for data centers; the story notes at least 37 states passed data-centre incentives and 1,000+ AI-focused bills were introduced. Examples: Hawaii H 934 (Broadband Office backed by $400m); West Virginia SB 907 / HB 2014 (funding and microgrid districts for data centers). See: States pass broadband laws focusing on infrastructure and data centers.

US: environmental permitting posture for AI buildout

• Commentary argues EPA leadership is prioritizing regulatory relief to speed construction of data centers and chip factories for AI, while not using AI tools to improve environmental protection; it calls for a modernized Project XL-style pilot. See: EPA clears regulatory path for AI infrastructure, snubs AI for protection.

US: local political scrutiny of data-centre approvals

• A Michigan state representative called for closer review of new data centres after the Michigan Public Service Commission approved a Saline Township facility and required DTE to absorb potential rate impacts; the same piece discusses water affordability/pollution bills. See: Michigan lawmaker on data centers, water affordability and pollution.

India: enabling private nuclear and SMR positioning for data centres

• India’s Union Minister stated SMRs could power AI-focused data centres and railways, citing containerized designs on 14 acres and 15–30 MW unit sizes. The SHANTI Bill has passed both houses and received presidential assent, enabling private companies to build nuclear plants. See: India promotes small modular reactors for data centres and railways.

Other notable tender activity (non-data-centre, but relevant contracting signals)

• A Polish museum launched an open tender for renovation/restoration works (ERDF co-financed) with bidder requirements including financial capacity of PLN 10,000,000 and a PLN 1,500,000 bid bond; submissions due 30/01/2026. See: Renovation and conservation works at Kaczkowski Palace in Krosno.

2-line close

Grid-facing constraints and permitting remain as important as real estate in determining data-centre delivery timelines. Capital is increasingly tracking optionality in on-site/firm power (SMRs, microgrids, storage) alongside conventional utility procurement.