hi-tequity slashes data centre deployment to just nine months

hi-tequity has introduced a new approach to data centre development, aiming to reduce deployment timelines in capacity-constrained markets significantly.

The company specialises in delivering deployment-ready 100 megawatt sites with secured power, targeting regions where electrical capacity is limited and where competition for utility resources is high.

Traditionally, the construction of large-scale data centre facilities has required between 24 and 42 months from initial utility connection to operational status. hi-tequity asserts it can reduce this process to just nine months by prioritising power access, prefabricated infrastructure, and pre-negotiated manufacturing agreements for critical equipment.

Ryne Friedman, Associate at hi-tequity, commented, "The bottleneck strangling AI deployment isn't chip supply anymore—it's power-ready infrastructure. hi-tequity specifically addresses this critical market issue with a process that cuts years off deployment schedules and unlocks revenue generation for hyperscalers and AI companies facing existential time pressures."

hi-tequity follows what it terms a "power-first methodology", in contrast to conventional practices that prioritise site acquisition before ensuring electrical capacity. This approach involves securing agreements with utilities for the required power before finalising land selection, a practice reflecting changing industry conditions in which shortages of available electricity have become the primary challenge to data centre construction.

The company works alongside regional utility providers and local governments to identify underutilised electrical capacity—often referred to as "stranded power"—that can be repurposed for new data centre projects. Once access is identified, hi-tequity secures power placement agreements, offering what it describes as a degree of certainty around both the availability and timeline of utility connections before construction commences.

Another component of the company's model centres on securing manufacturing capacity for mission-critical infrastructure. Industry-wide supply chain delays have seen lead times for components such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and switchgear increase by up to 18 months. hi-tequity indicates it has pre-arranged production slots and agreements with manufacturers in place to guarantee timely availability.

Scotty Embley, Associate at hi-tequity, stated, "What makes hi-tequity unique is our established relationships with top-tier manufacturers. While other developers face extended backlogs for critical components, we've locked in dedicated production capacity and priority delivery slots with essential vendors across the infrastructure ecosystem."

The company points out that security of supply for items such as UPS systems, transformers, and cooling equipment is as consequential as securing the site itself. These procurement practices are described as a "fundamental competitive advantage" in the current market.

hi-tequity offers three development frameworks for clients. The first, Brownfield Conversion, involves repurposing existing industrial facilities with upgraded systems, delivering operational data centres in as little as six months while reducing embodied carbon in construction. The second, Powered Shell, creates purpose-built facilities with pre-installed electrical infrastructure, which can be further customised for tenant requirements. This method is said to reduce build times by 65%. The third, Greenfield Development, builds new centres on undeveloped land, using modular construction and prefabricated components to compress construction schedules while allowing for future expansion.

According to the company, each site in its portfolio is supplied as premium, entitled land, already approved and with secured power commitments, completed regulatory procedures, and engineered infrastructure in place. This model is designed for operators who require rapid deployment and immediate construction commencement in highly competitive locations.

The company was founded in 2024 and positions itself to address the demands created by the rise in artificial intelligence computing and the associated requirement for scalable, high-capacity digital infrastructure. In the current environment, where opportunities to develop on power-ready sites are increasingly limited, hi-tequity's entitled land offerings are intended to provide options for operators seeking speed-to-market and certainty of delivery.