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A large-scale data center project currently underway in Kagoshima Prefecture is making waves across the industry.

The proposed site is located near the Kyushu Electric Power Sendai Nuclear Power Station, a feature that promises a highly stable baseload power supply. As the sophistication of AI development and semiconductor manufacturing accelerates, securing reliable power has become the most critical challenge for data centers. Locating a facility in direct proximity to a nuclear power plant is a unique strategic differentiator—one rarely seen in recent Japanese construction projects.

Furthermore, Kagoshima offers distinct geographic advantages:

• Geological Stability: The area is considered to have a relatively low risk of earthquakes compared to other Japanese regions.

• Climate: Temperatures are generally more stable than on the main island (Honshu), contributing to better cooling efficiency.

With local governments actively courting digital infrastructure investment, interest from both domestic and international operators is surging.

The “Watt-Bit” Collaboration: A New Possibility

Beyond the location, this project is garnering attention as a potential pioneer for “Watt-Bit” collaboration.

“Watt-Bit” refers to the convergence of energy (Watts) and digital data (Bits). In this context, it represents an initiative to optimize data center power usage in real-time using advanced, AI-driven power management technologies. This approach is expected to deliver:

• Significant reduction in electricity costs.

• Better adjustment of supply-demand balance.

• More sophisticated integration of renewable energy sources.

The Kagoshima project aims to combine a stable nuclear power source with this next-generation operational model. If successful, it could establish a new standard for data centers in Japan.

From “Consumer” to “Contributor”　

There is also a broader vision to integrate this facility with regional smart grids.

By doing so, the data center could contribute to disaster resilience and promote the local consumption of locally produced energy. This marks a potential turning point where data centers evolve from facilities that simply “consume massive amounts of power” into “intelligent infrastructure that contributes to the regional grid.”

Kagoshima’s Environmental Advantage and Future Outlook

Kagoshima offers ample land availability—a critical factor for data centers requiring vast footprints. Additionally, the Kyushu region is rapidly developing into a semiconductor industry cluster (often called “Silicon Island”), suggesting strong potential for synergy with related industries.

Kagoshima is steadily increasing its presence as a “New Technology Hub in Southern Japan,” driving the broader digital industry forward.

With these compounding factors—geographic stability, power security, and technological innovation—the Kagoshima plan is more than just a construction project. It is being watched closely as a symbolic initiative that could reshape the future of Japan’s digital infrastructure. Depending on how it unfolds, it may well provide the blueprint for the next generation of national digital foundations.