CyrusOne

Before a data center ever connects to the grid, there’s a lot of work to answer one critical question: Can the power system support it reliably?

In this video, Gene Alessandrini, EVP and Chief Development Officer at CyrusOne, explains how power availability and grid reliability factor into site selection, from evaluating generation and transmission capacity to working with utilities on the infrastructure needed to serve a site.

He also explains how utilities plan for reserve capacity so the grid can continue reliably serving homes, businesses and other customers as new demand comes online.

There are a lot of factors behind that process, but the priority is straightforward: reliability has to remain at the center of the conversation.

Watch the video to learn more about how that planning works.

What if the water cooling a data center didn’t go down the drain?

In a closed loop cooling system, it doesn’t.

Instead, the water is recirculated, absorbing heat from the data center, carrying it outside where the heat is released, then returning to repeat the process.

Think of it less like running a faucet and more like a continuous circuit: move the heat, keep the water.

That distinction matters when talking about how data centers use water and how cooling system design can reduce the need for a continuous supply of new water.

So, what actually happens inside the loop? Follow the journey.

For many young people, data centers enable their everyday lives. But often they don't know they exist, what they do, or that the sector offers meaningful careers across a breadth of disciplines and skill sets.

That's why we brought the data center industry to life for 160 students at Featherstone High School in Southall, London, pairing them with over 20 CyrusOne leaders for a day exploring responsible development and the range of careers our industry offers.

They met professionals in technical, operational and corporate roles, took part in myth-busting sessions on data centers, the internet, energy and water use, and tackled a real-world design challenge: How to create a data center campus that benefits the surrounding community.

Working in teams, the students developed their ideas before presenting them and explaining their choices.

For some, it was their first look inside the industry: “I didn't know what a data centre was before this group task. It really opened my view about different science and maths careers.”

For us, it was as much about connecting with the communities we serve, listening to what young people and educators need, and learning from them, as it was about giving students our time to help them gain a clearer view of the opportunities in front of them.

Thank you to the students and teachers at Featherstone High School for welcoming us, and to HireHigher, West London Chambers, Let’s Go Southall and our CyrusOne colleagues who helped make the day possible.

Watch the highlights and hear what the students and teachers had to say. 🎥

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What happens before a CyrusOne data center ever breaks ground? More than you might think.

Responsible development starts long before construction begins. Potential sites go through months, and often years, of studies, reviews and collaboration to help answer one important question: Is this the right project in the right place?

From power availability and environmental conditions to noise, local infrastructure and community priorities, each consideration helps inform how and where we develop.

Because responsible infrastructure isn't just about what we build. It's about the planning, collaboration and care that happen before the first shovel touches the ground.

Watch the video to see what happens before construction begins and how CyrusOne approaches responsible site selection.

Does cooling a data center require a continuous supply of water? Not at CyrusOne.

For more than 15 years, CyrusOne's standard design has used air-based cooling and a closed-loop system that does not require a continuous supply of water for cooling operations.

That approach is intentional. Water is a precious resource, and how we design our facilities plays an important role in protecting it while delivering the reliable digital infrastructure people depend on every day.

So, what does that look like inside a data center?

Watch the animation to see how our cooling system works and why responsible infrastructure starts with thoughtful design.