PowerBank Corporation and Nodiac.ai have entered into a Joint Development Agreement to deploy modular data centers alongside existing renewable energy assets across North America. Under this agreement, the two companies will install scalable, containerized data center units—ranging from 1 to 20 megawatts—directly at PowerBank’s solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) sites. By locating compute capacity at distribution-level interconnection points, the partners aim to bypass lengthy transmission-queue delays typical of traditional hyperscale data center builds.
This collaboration builds on a letter of intent signed in April and establishes a framework for site evaluation, joint project development and cash-flow sharing. PowerBank brings access to land, permitting approvals and electricity generation, while Nodiac.ai contributes its modular data center design and deployment expertise. Initial efforts will focus on identifying suitable sites within PowerBank’s portfolio, which includes over 100 megawatts of operating renewable capacity and a development pipeline exceeding one gigawatt.
Rapid growth in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence is stressing grid interconnection timelines. The International Energy Agency projects data center power needs in the United States will increase by roughly 130 percent by 2030, and Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator forecasts provincial demand will rise 75 percent by 2050. By co-locating compute with generation, the partners intend to bring AI infrastructure online in months, rather than the multi-year timeframe often required for large-load grid connections.
Dr. Richard Lu, Chief Executive Officer of PowerBank, commented that leveraging existing energy sites for distributed AI compute unlocks new revenue streams and reinforces a clean, resilient energy foundation. Robert Sher, CEO of Nodiac.ai, added that ready access to power at these locations addresses one of the industry’s most pressing bottlenecks, enabling faster, more efficient scaling of AI infrastructure.
The global modular data center market was valued at about $29 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $75–$80 billion by 2030. North America accounts for roughly 41 percent of revenue share, driven by edge computing adoption, sustainability goals and the need for rapid deployment. Subject to site-specific agreements, permits, technical feasibility and financing, PowerBank and Nodiac.ai will move forward with co-located modular data centers to support North America’s expanding digital economy.
Source: PR Newswire
