BlackRock unveils £500 million bet on UK data centers

Core Insights - BlackRock Inc. plans to invest up to £500 million ($678 million) in the UK's data center market, focusing on acquiring existing data centers with underused capacity through a partnership with Gravity Edge called Digital Gravity Partners [4] - The investment is driven by the anticipated surge in demand for data center infrastructure due to the rise of artificial intelligence, prompting global investors to pursue mega-projects for hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google [4] - BlackRock's initial investment will exceed £100 million, sourced from its ₹1.2 billion Europe Property Fund VI, which closed in July [3] Investment Strategy - The partnership aims to identify underutilized assets that have power capacity, rather than engaging in ground-up development for hyperscalers [3] - Targeting smaller facilities that serve enterprise clients will expand the potential buyer pool for upgraded properties, contrasting with the capital-intensive nature of hyperscale projects [3] Market Challenges - The UK faces challenges such as some of the highest electricity costs in Europe and a power grid that is already strained by demand [2]