Dutch, US firms to develop solar-powered data centre in Palapye
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday October 6, 2025 06:00
A data centre is a physical location that stores computing machines and their related hardware equipment. The facilities are critical to delivering online services and key business applications for organisations worldwide, utilsing a network of computing and storage resources.
In a statement, AAAS Energy officials said the agreement with ChillMine would see the integration of the data centre into the Dutch firm’s planned energy hub and industrial park near Palapye.
“The development includes a 250MW Solar PV project with an anticipated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of approximately 100MW/400MWh, currently under development. “This robust energy foundation is expected to ensure operational stability, resilience, and sustainability for the data centre facilities,” the officials said.
The strategic partnership marks a major step toward establishing a world-class facility designed to support Artificial Intelligence (AI), hyperscale computing, and other energy-intensive digital operations in Southern Africa, officials added.
The proposed data centre campus will be powered by a combination of renewable and natural gas energy sources, offering clients such as global cloud providers, reliable, scalable, and cost-effective data infrastructure. With rising demand for uninterrupted power to fuel advanced computing, the Botswana project aims to position the country as a regional hub for digital innovation and energy-efficient data solution.
AAAS Managing Director, Maarten Mennes, described the partnership as a breakthrough for sustainable digital growth in Africa.
“This MoU with ChillMine is a significant step in our vision to connect sustainable energy development with the digital economy. “By combining power from the Solar PV + BESS Project with natural gas projects in Botswana, we are creating a unique value proposition for global technology companies seeking to expand into Africa,” he said.
ChillMine Corporation’s co-founder and CEO, Brian Neirby, echoed the optimism, highlighting the partnership’s potential to meet the needs of global hyperscalers.
“We are thrilled to partner with AAAS to bring our data centre expertise to Botswana. “The combination of the energy infrastructure under development and our operational experience will enable us to deliver a best-in-class, high-performance data centre campus that can meet the rigorous demands of the world’s most sophisticated technology users,” he said.
Once completed, the campus will not only strengthen Botswana’s role in the regional digital economy but also align with the global push for sustainable energy use in data infrastructure.