The twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago will host new data centers with capacity of up to 800 MW after the government signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Ernst & Young (EY) and Hummingbird AI Holdings on Friday.
As reported by state media outlet TTT, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar signed the MoUs on Friday, which include proposals from US-based firms EY and Hummingbird AI Holdings to build out data centers in the Caribbean nation, marking the first such agreements in the country.
Regarding the MoU between the country and EY, the firm will partner with third-party developers to construct a 300 MW data center while also developing a framework for collaboration on the development of large-scale data centers and supporting infrastructure.
The second MoU with Hummingbird AI Holdings includes a proposal for a 150 MW AI data center and supporting infrastructure with the potential to increase capacity to 500 MW over the long term. This MoU looks to be on an accelerated timeline, with a proposed initial commercial operation deadline of Q1 2028.
The government said that these projects, together with a proposed refurbishment of an iron and steel plant at Point Lisas, are expected to generate investments totaling US$ 5 billion in the coming years while also creating over 5,000 jobs.
No sooner had these MoUs been signed than concerns about water usage were raised. Trinidad and Tobago’s water supply is frequently disrupted due to aging infrastructure and supply reductions by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) during extended dryspells. According to a report from the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, following the signing of the MoUs, Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath said these data centers won’t have a negative impact on the country’s water security.
The minister said that Debe is being eyed as the special economic zone for this digital infrastructure, and man-made ponds will be constructed to supply data centers with the water they require. Ultimately, however, desalination plants will need to be constructed to insure water security for both data centers and residential and commercial users.
“We will have a hybrid system in terms of utilising the ponds in the first instance that are created, the man-made ponds, and then if additional water supply is needed by then the desalination plants would come on stream,” the minister explained. “These data centres, the need for supply for data centres with respect to water will not impact in any way servicing the commercial and the residential customers of WASA.”
On power, Trinidad and Tobago is expected to see its solar energy market expand rapidly. As outlined by Research and Markets, the country had 8.37 MW of solar power installed by 2024 with this expected to grow to 336.24 MW by 2029. This could be that carrot that brings data center operators looking for low-carbon markets to the country..
Even with those positives, considering that the first facility is targeted for 2028, the question is no longer whether Trinidad and Tobago wants to become a data center hub, but whether its water and power infrastructure can be built out fast enough to support the market.