What is Aligned Data Centers’ Key Role in AI Infrastructure?

A landmark US$40bn deal to acquire Aligned Data Centers signals the immense infrastructure investment required to power the global expansion of AI.

The acquisition, led by a consortium that includes AI sector leaders Nvidia, Microsoft and xAI, highlights the strategic value of data centres equipped to handle the intensive demands of AI workloads.

The group of buyers, which also includes BlackRock, MGX of Abu Dhabi and the Kuwait Investment Authority, will purchase Aligned from Macquarie Asset Management.

The transaction is being facilitated through the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

This move could highlight the critical role of physical infrastructure in the continuing development of the digital economy.

Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned Data Centers, says: “Partnering with the Consortium will accelerate our mission to deliver the infrastructure powering tomorrow’s digital economy.

“With AIP, MGX and GIP’s global reach, extensive resources and deep expertise across AI, energy and finance, we are poised to scale faster, innovate further and redefine what’s possible in sustainable data centre infrastructure.”

Strategic investment in AI infrastructure

The acquisition is the first major investment for the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership, a group formed in September 2024 by BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft and Nvidia.

AIP’s focus is to channel capital into the energy, connectivity and compute ecosystems necessary for future cloud applications and advanced AI models.

This transaction marks a major step in its strategy to deploy US$30bn in equity capital.

Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of AIP, explains: “AIP is positioned to meet the growing demand for the infrastructure required as AI continues to reshape the global economy.

“This partnership is bringing together leading companies and mobilising private capital to accelerate AI innovation and drive global economic growth and productivity.”

The deal is part of a wider trend of capital deployment in the hyperscale market, as investors aim to secure capacity to meet the demand generated by rapid AI adoption.

Bayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, says: “AI is reshaping every sector of the global economy.

“By combining Aligned’s scalable, adaptable platform with AIP’s capital and capabilities, we will build the infrastructure to support innovation at scale – creating resilient, sustainable communities and unlocking transformative growth worldwide.”

The scale of AI-driven compute demand

The increasing sophistication of AI workloads requires dense GPU clusters and advanced cooling systems capable of supporting massive training models.

According to some industry estimates, global data centre power demand could more than double by 2030, a rise caused primarily by AI and machine learning (ML).

This places a premium on operators like Aligned that can deliver efficient and scalable infrastructure.

Founded in 2013, Aligned operates 50 data centre campuses across North and South America, with over 5 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity.

Aligned’s focus on sustainability, including its patented cooling technology, makes its facilities well-suited to the power-intensive requirements of AI compute.

“We are entering a new era in which AI will fundamentally reengineer our economies and enable accelerated growth,” says Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, CEO of MGX.

“Compute infrastructure at scale will be foundational to that progress. Our investment in Aligned Data Centers will direct scalable capital to an operator built for efficiency and growth, with the mission to deliver the infrastructure needed to support global AI adoption.”

A new benchmark for data centre valuation

The US$40bn valuation reflects the strategic importance of Aligned’s development pipeline and its capacity to support hyperscale AI compute.

The direct involvement of Nvidia and Microsoft demonstrates a deepening integration between AI technology development and the physical infrastructure that enables it.

Their participation suggests a broader industry trend of technology firms moving to secure access to compute resources.

For Aligned, the acquisition provides substantial capital to expand its footprint across the Americas and potentially into new regions.

The deal, expected to close by late 2026 pending regulatory approval, redefines the valuation standards within the data centre sector.

It reinforces the idea that data centres are evolving from background utilities into core strategic assets for economic growth and AI development.

“With this investment in Aligned Data Centers, we further our goal of delivering the infrastructure necessary to power the future of AI, while offering our clients attractive opportunities to participate in its growth,” explained Larry Fink.