ChillMine Corporation, a U.S.-based data center operator, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Netherlands-based AAAS Energy to jointly develop a large-scale data center campus in Botswana. The collaboration is aimed at building a next-generation facility capable of supporting AI computing, hyperscale cloud providers, and other energy-intensive computing workloads.
The planned development comes at a time when demand for reliable and scalable digital infrastructure in Southern Africa is accelerating. For global cloud and AI providers, access to stable, affordable energy sources is a central consideration, and the Botswana project is being designed with that requirement at its core.
The new campus will be situated near Palapye, integrated into an Energy Hub and Industrial Park. According to the agreement, AAAS Energy will coordinate with its joint development partner to bring renewable and hybrid energy solutions to the project
At the heart of the plan is a 250 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) installation under development, supported by a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) estimated between 100 MW and 400 MW.
Combined, the renewable generation and storage assets are intended to provide a steady and resilient power supply. The energy mix may also include natural gas projects currently being advanced by third-party developers in Botswana, creating a diversified supply base for continuous uptime.
Clean Energy Meets Africa’s Digital Transformation
For AAAS Energy, the initiative is part of a broader push to align clean energy development with Africa’s digital transformation. “This MOU with ChillMine is a significant step in our vision to connect sustainable energy development with the digital economy,” said Maarten Mennes, Managing Director of AAAS Energy. “By combining power from the Solar PV and BESS Project with natural gas projects, we are creating a unique value proposition for global technology companies seeking to expand into Africa.”
ChillMine, which operates high-density computing facilities in North America, sees the partnership as a chance to extend its footprint into emerging digital markets. “The combination of the energy infrastructure under development and our operational experience will enable us to deliver a best-in-class, high-performance data center campus that can meet the rigorous demands of the world’s most sophisticated technology users,” said Brian Neirby, co-founder and CEO of ChillMine.
The agreement underlines a growing trend of aligning renewable energy and digital infrastructure investment in Africa. By pairing hyperscale computing with large-scale clean power projects, both companies aim to address global concerns about sustainability in data center operations while opening up new capacity for technology providers looking to enter or expand within the African market.
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