Dell, Jera and UK‑based Rhaelm to build $15 bn off‑grid AI data centre and gas plant near Tokyo by 2028
| Source: Techmeme | Original article
Dell, Jera and UK‑based Rhaelm will build a $15 billion, 400 MW off‑grid AI data centre and gas power plant near Tokyo, slated to start operating around 2028.
Dell Technologies, Japan’s leading power generator JERA, and UK‑based AI‑infrastructure specialist RHAELM have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a $15 billion, 400‑megawatt off‑grid AI data centre and gas‑power plant on the outskirts of Tokyo, with commissioning slated for around 2028. The facility, to be sited at JERA’s Chiba station, will co‑locate Dell’s “AI Factory” compute platform with a dedicated gas plant, creating a self‑contained AI hub that bypasses the conventional grid.
The partnership is notable for its scale – a 400 MW data centre would rank among the largest AI projects in Asia outside China – and for its approach to “stranded” power capacity. RHAELM, founded to turn excess generation into sovereign AI infrastructure, will manage the integration of the power asset with the compute stack, while JERA supplies the gas‑fired generation needed to meet the intensive energy demands of next‑generation models. Dell’s role is to provide the standardized hardware and software framework that will underpin the facility’s AI workloads.
The deal signals Japan’s intent to accelerate domestic AI capability and reduce reliance on overseas cloud providers. By pairing a dedicated power source with a purpose‑built compute environment, the trio aims to deliver a national‑scale AI infrastructure model that could be replicated elsewhere in the country. The project also underscores the growing convergence of energy and AI sectors as compute intensity climbs.
Going forward, observers will watch for progress on site preparation, regulatory clearances for the gas plant, and the rollout of the Dell AI Factory architecture. The timeline for construction, the mix of AI workloads the centre will host, and any subsequent partnerships to expand the model across Japan will be key indicators of how quickly the country can translate the investment into tangible AI capacity.
Sources
Back to AIPULSEN