Greenfield development

Greenfield development is the construction of a data center on previously undeveloped land, as opposed to brownfield conversion of existing industrial buildings or expansion of operating campuses. Greenfield projects allow purpose-built designs — optimal power routing, liquid-cooling-ready halls, room for on-site substations and future phases — but face the longest timelines: land acquisition, zoning, environmental permits, and above all grid connection, where utility queues in major markets now run 3-7 years for large allocations. Typical greenfield hyperscale campuses are announced at 100-500+ MW across multiple phases, with construction of a first building taking 18-30 months once power is secured. Site selection prioritizes power availability and cost, fiber routes, water, tax incentives, and low natural-hazard risk.