ACTOM, a leader in energy infrastructure, is set to launch its innovative Data Centre Power Solutions at Enlit Africa 2025. As the data centre industry rapidly expands across the African continent, ACTOM is positioning itself as a strategic partner to address the sector’s growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy solutions.
Sy Gourrah, Senior General Manager at ACTOM, explains, “ACTOM is placing great emphasis on raising awareness of the role its data centre solutions play in supporting Africa’s digital transformation. With data centres forming a vital part of the continent’s future, there is an increasing need for energy infrastructure that is not only efficient and scalable, but also sustainable.”
The African data centre industry is projected to exceed US$3 billion by 2025, fuelled by the increasing demand for cloud computing, e-commerce, and digital services. As mobile adoption, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) continue to drive digital growth, the need for robust data storage, processing, and distribution grows alongside it. However, this surge in demand comes with the challenge of ensuring a stable and sustainable power supply, as data centres are energy-intensive and require reliable energy sources.
“Digital transformation, urbanisation, and the expansion of cloud services from global providers are key drivers of this demand,” says Gourrah. “With data centres becoming the backbone of industries like finance, entertainment, and more, it is imperative to ensure their energy needs are consistently met with reliable power infrastructure.”
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has added further pressure on data centres, which now face significantly higher energy demands. Traditional racks consumed 5-10kW per unit, but AI-focused racks now demand between 30-40kW, with some even reaching 60-100kW. This increase in rack power density not only elevates energy requirements but also complicates cooling infrastructure, as high-density AI racks generate substantially more heat.
“The energy infrastructure in many African countries is often not equipped to support these increased demands,” explains Gourrah. “To ensure data centres operate reliably, dedicated substations and power supplies must be constructed. In some cases, operators are even required to build independent power sources to guarantee continuous service.”
This has seen a demand for local manufacturers that design, and construct substations tailored to data centre power requirements, which ACTOM has been doing for years. Not only does this approach enable potentially shorter lead times, but it also reduces reliance on imported components—an increasingly important consideration for developers looking to de-risk projects and improve timelines.
ACTOM has emerged as a key player in this space, offering turnkey EPC substation services that align with Africa’s unique infrastructure and energy needs. The company’s capabilities extend beyond traditional substation design, integrating renewable energy technologies such as solar, battery storage, and hybrid systems. Their offering also includes power purchase agreements (PPAs) and bespoke energy storage solutions—designed specifically for the operational demands of data centres.
Gourrah adds, “What is vital for data centres, but often regarded as an afterthought, is after-sales support, condition monitoring, and maintenance services. ACTOM has been able to provide these services and has developed in- house condition monitoring systems especially for their Power Transformers.”
As Africa’s digital transformation accelerates, reliable and sustainable energy infrastructure is crucial. ACTOM’s Data Centre Power Solutions meet this need by offering efficient, scalable, and locally tailored power solutions. Through the integration of renewable energy and ongoing support, ACTOM helps ensure a stable and sustainable power supply for the continent’s growing data centre sector.
