Azur Datacenter - Béthune

Azur Datacenter - Béthune, located at 575 Av. George Washington in Béthune, France, is a significant new data center project focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC). This facility is being established on the former Bridgestone industrial site, with a substantial investment of 1.5 billion euros. The data center will occupy a 26,000 m² rehabilitated building, designed to accommodate very high-capacity servers for massive data storage and processing.

The infrastructure is "liquid-ready," supporting direct liquid cooling (DLC) and immersion cooling technologies, which are crucial for efficiently dissipating heat from dense AI/HPC hardware. This design enables higher power density per rack and aims for significant energy consumption reduction. The site benefits from its industrial heritage, offering advantages such as easy access for heavy vehicles, pre-existing or easily connectable electrical infrastructure, and essential technical services. The project is scheduled for commissioning in early 2026 and is expected to create around thirty jobs. It aligns with the regional ambition to become a leading "AI Valley" in France, leveraging the country's low-carbon energy grid.