It is now also a strategic area for AI infrastructure investments in its dedicated area, the Sines Data Campus.
It is the UK company NSCALE, founded three years ago by Josh Payne, that has announced an expansion of its collaboration with Microsoft and Start Campus at a stunning investment of €695 million. The investment, which counts more than 66,000 NVIDIA Rubin GPUs, represents one of Europe’s largest investments in AI infrastructure and also one of the most significant made in Portugal. With this additional investment of hundreds of millions of euros in ZILS, the project will further strengthen the industrial area as a technological and industrial platform prepared to meet the demands of the new digital advancements.
What is AI infrastructure?
At this point most of us have heard of or used software engines like ChatGPT or OpenAI. Or been lucky enough to interact with a so-called “chatbot”. AI infrastructure is the underlying technology stack that makes AI development and deployment possible. It includes the computing power, data storage, networking, software and physical facilities needed to train models, run them, and serve users at scale. So the AI models that you probably know by now are the “brains” and the AI infrastructure is the “body” that gives them memory, power, connectivity, and a place to operate.
And why Portugal? And why Sines?
In this particular case, ZILS offers the 1.2 GW campus fully permitted, which reduces the red tape for new projects. The technology can be run by 100% renewable energy. Finally, given ZILS’ strategic location, the data centre can be fully cooled by ocean water from the Atlantic.
Sines – one of the most strategically located ports in Western Europe
The Port of Sines is the only national deep-water maritime port with manoeuvring restrictions, which means it can accommodate the world’s largest container ships. The port is said to be the closest port to Latin America in Europe. The industrial and logistics zone, ZILS, is likewise strategically placed in the area and intended for industrial, logistics nd service companies. In the last few years alone, the zone has equally become host to future innovative energy projects, with large-scale plants in the making, within batteries and cell production, green hydrogen and steel production with renewable energy. Sines municipality has 14,238 inhabitants, a number which is expected to grow with the development of the industrial area, and is the last frontier of the Setubal district.
Besides the port, the area is adjacent to 65 km of sandy beach, also known as the Silver Coast (Costa Vicentina). A sought-after vacation spot, where, amongst others, the Fisherman’s Trail begins.