Australia's Arvica Plans 2.2 MW Liquid-Cooled Data Center, Targeting 2028 Commissioning

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 13, Australian AI cloud service provider Arvica Cloud announced plans for a modular liquid-cooled edge data center in Queensland, with high-density GPU computing facilities to be deployed in the Swanbank area. The first phase of the project is planned to apply for 1.5 MVA grid connection capacity, configured with 600 to 800 kW of IT load. The second phase is planned to expand grid connection capacity to 3 MVA and increase IT load to approximately 2.2 MW. The project is scheduled to enter operation in 2028, and site selection, grid connection assessment, and conceptual engineering design are currently underway.

The project plans to adopt a prefabricated modular construction approach, integrating an 800 V high-voltage direct current power supply architecture, chip-level direct liquid cooling system, and coolant distribution units (CDUs) into the computing modules. The cooling system is configured with rack-level supply and return manifolds, and connects the IT cooling loop with the facility cooling loop through CDUs, while also configuring auxiliary heat dissipation systems for air-cooled components. Arvica Cloud has set a design target of annual power usage effectiveness (PUE) no higher than 1.3.

In terms of equipment configuration, the project is oriented toward NVIDIA H200, B200, B300, and subsequent high-density GPU systems, while also supporting AMD accelerators that meet the technical requirements. The rack design will cover high-density loads above 100 kW and evaluate liquid-cooled rack configurations above 250 kW. Specific rack power and equipment quantities will be determined in subsequent engineering design.

Arvica Cloud has opened intent registration for first-phase GPU hosting capacity, offering four tiers of capacity demand: 50 to 100 kW, 100 to 250 kW, 250 to 500 kW, and above 500 kW. Customers may provide their own GPU servers and computing accelerators, and Arvica Cloud plans to provide power supply, liquid cooling, racks, network connectivity, and on-site operations and maintenance services. The project plans to add power supply and distribution, cooling, and computer rack modules in phases according to customer capacity demand.

According to the development schedule published by the company, the first-phase facility is targeted to be ready for delivery in the first quarter of 2028. Arvica Cloud is evaluating candidate sites around Brisbane, Queensland, and conducting power supply capacity assessments with relevant utility organizations, with detailed engineering design, infrastructure construction, commissioning of power supply and distribution and cooling systems, and customer equipment installation to follow in sequence.