Tag: AI data centers

  • How Nickel-Zinc Batteries Are Solving AI Data Center Power Challenges

    How Nickel-Zinc Batteries Are Solving AI Data Center Power Challenges

    Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing how data centers consume electricity, forcing operators to rethink power infrastructure from the UPS to the grid. In a recent interview, Brandon Smith, Vice President of Global Sales and Product at ZincFive, explains why battery chemistry is becoming a critical factor in supporting AI-scale computing.

    As GPU clusters generate rapid and unpredictable spikes in electricity demand, traditional backup power systems designed for stable loads face new challenges. Smith discusses how ZincFive’s nickel-zinc (NiZn) battery technology is engineered to deliver high power in short bursts—a capability that aligns with the dynamic power behavior of modern AI workloads.

    Unlike conventional chemistries focused on long-duration energy storage, nickel-zinc systems are designed for what ZincFive calls Immediate Power Solutions: stabilizing rapid power spikes while also providing reliable UPS backup when the grid fails. According to Smith, nickel-zinc allows operators to manage AI power volatility without sacrificing safety, sustainability, or performance—proving that in modern power infrastructure, the right chemistry makes all the difference.

    To learn more about ZincFive’s technology, visit their official website.

  • Kasi Cloud’s Johnson Agogbua on Building Hyperscale AI-Ready Data Centers Across Africa

    Kasi Cloud’s Johnson Agogbua on Building Hyperscale AI-Ready Data Centers Across Africa

    Johnson Agogbua, Co-Founder and CEO of Kasi Cloud, has spent over three decades building internet infrastructure—from early internet protocols at UUNET Technologies to optical networking at Movaz and connecting billions at Meta and Reliance Jio. Now, he is applying that expertise to address Africa’s most critical infrastructure gap: hyperscale, AI-ready data centers.

    Founded with Mark Adams (formerly Chief Strategy Officer at Equinix), Kasi Cloud emerged from a simple question: why not Africa? The company launched in early 2020 amid the pandemic, which ironically allowed for deep market research and site selection. It acquired 4.2 hectares in Lagos, secured backing from the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund and seed funding from DH Capital, and broke ground by 2022.

    Kasi differentiates itself with an “unstoppable capacity” philosophy—designing for Africa’s digital needs a decade ahead. This includes refactoring power architecture all the way to the rack level and building redundant carrier-neutral colocation space. A key partnership with Eaton cut delivery times by 50% and reimagined power for the African context. “We are not going to build a second-rate data centre in Africa,” Agogbua emphasizes. “World-class belongs in Africa as well.”

    The company’s hyperscale-first approach is a direct answer to the continent’s growing demand for cloud and AI infrastructure, positioning Kasi as a critical player in Africa’s digital transformation.