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Gulf Development Targets 2,000 MW of Data-Center Capacity in Five Years
Gulf Development Public Company Limited, Thailand’s biggest energy firm by market value and a major telecom operator, has unveiled a new round of data‑center investments that will add 100 megawatts (MW) of capacity this year. The move is part of a broader plan to reach roughly 2,000 MW of service capacity within the next three to five years.
Chief strategy officer Smith Banomyong said feasibility studies for one to two additional projects are underway, with final decisions expected before the end of 2026. The company’s strategy includes building electricity generation assets to support the data‑center portfolio and securing renewable‑energy supply through direct power‑purchase agreements with data‑center operators.
Gulf estimates that the average cost of a data‑center project between 2026 and 2030 will be US$6–7 million per MW. The firm has earmarked about 10 % of a projected five‑year capital‑expenditure budget of 130–140 billion baht for digital infrastructure.
Sustainability is a stated priority. Gulf’s facilities are designed to minimise electricity and water use, employing water‑cooling systems and energy‑efficient building designs. Banomyong urged the Thai government to introduce regulations specific to data centres, citing Singapore and South Korea as examples.
To support the expansion, Gulf established Gulf Edge Data Center 02 Co (GEDC02). The company’s current projects include:
GSA Data Center 01 in Samut Prakan, a joint venture with Singtel and Advance Info Service. The 25‑MW facility is operational and is the first in Thailand to use a liquid‑cooling system for artificial‑intelligence (AI) chips. GSA02 in Chon Buri, under development with a planned 38‑MW capacity. Commercial operation is expected in mid‑2027. * A 100‑MW GEDC project in Rayong, under construction and slated to open in late 2027.
Gulf currently manages about 200 MW of data‑center capacity through its existing collaborations. The company is also in confidential discussions with investors about expanding into AI services.
The expansion aligns with Gulf’s broader ambition to serve Western and Chinese hyperscalers, local enterprises and government clients. According to a Bloomberg Law report, the firm plans to increase its data‑center capacity by up to 2,000 MW over the next five years.
The move comes amid a global surge in demand for cloud and AI services. Moody’s Ratings has projected at least $3 trillion in global data‑center investment over the next five years to keep pace with AI capacity growth.
Gulf’s investment strategy reflects a trend in Thailand toward a more distributed data‑center map, with projects spread across areas where power infrastructure can realistically support demand. This pattern is expected to diverge from Malaysia’s more concentrated approach.
The company’s capital‑expenditure plan includes significant spending on renewable‑energy projects to supply its data‑center operations. Gulf has announced a THB 140 billion investment in data centers and renewable energy.
Gulf’s expansion strategy also involves establishing new entities to strengthen its data‑center and digital‑infrastructure businesses. Gulf Edge Data Center 02 was formally established to prepare for future data‑center development and operation.
The company’s plans have attracted attention from regulators and industry observers. Gulf has called for specific data‑center regulations to protect sensitive data, a request that echoes regulatory developments in Singapore and South Korea.
As Gulf moves forward, the company will continue to monitor feasibility studies, secure financing, and engage with government authorities to ensure its data‑center expansion aligns with national infrastructure and sustainability goals.
The next key milestones include finalising decisions on the 1–2 additional projects, completing construction of the Rayong facility, and achieving commercial operation of GSA02 in 2027. Gulf’s progress will be closely watched by investors, regulators and the Thai digital‑infrastructure market.
The company’s expansion plans are part of a broader effort to position Thailand as a regional hub for cloud and AI services, with Gulf Development playing a central role in building the necessary physical and energy infrastructure.
The company’s capital‑expenditure forecast, regulatory engagement, and partnership developments will shape the trajectory of Thailand’s data‑center industry over the next five years.
Chief strategy officer Smith Banomyong said feasibility studies for one to two additional projects are underway, with final decisions expected before the end of 2026. The company’s strategy includes building electricity generation assets to support the data‑center portfolio and securing renewable‑energy supply through direct power‑purchase agreements with data‑center operators.
Gulf estimates that the average cost of a data‑center project between 2026 and 2030 will be US$6–7 million per MW. The firm has earmarked about 10 % of a projected five‑year capital‑expenditure budget of 130–140 billion baht for digital infrastructure.
Sustainability is a stated priority. Gulf’s facilities are designed to minimise electricity and water use, employing water‑cooling systems and energy‑efficient building designs. Banomyong urged the Thai government to introduce regulations specific to data centres, citing Singapore and South Korea as examples.
To support the expansion, Gulf established Gulf Edge Data Center 02 Co (GEDC02). The company’s current projects include:
GSA Data Center 01 in Samut Prakan, a joint venture with Singtel and Advance Info Service. The 25‑MW facility is operational and is the first in Thailand to use a liquid‑cooling system for artificial‑intelligence (AI) chips. GSA02 in Chon Buri, under development with a planned 38‑MW capacity. Commercial operation is expected in mid‑2027. * A 100‑MW GEDC project in Rayong, under construction and slated to open in late 2027.
Gulf currently manages about 200 MW of data‑center capacity through its existing collaborations. The company is also in confidential discussions with investors about expanding into AI services.
The expansion aligns with Gulf’s broader ambition to serve Western and Chinese hyperscalers, local enterprises and government clients. According to a Bloomberg Law report, the firm plans to increase its data‑center capacity by up to 2,000 MW over the next five years.
The move comes amid a global surge in demand for cloud and AI services. Moody’s Ratings has projected at least $3 trillion in global data‑center investment over the next five years to keep pace with AI capacity growth.
Gulf’s investment strategy reflects a trend in Thailand toward a more distributed data‑center map, with projects spread across areas where power infrastructure can realistically support demand. This pattern is expected to diverge from Malaysia’s more concentrated approach.
The company’s capital‑expenditure plan includes significant spending on renewable‑energy projects to supply its data‑center operations. Gulf has announced a THB 140 billion investment in data centers and renewable energy.
Gulf’s expansion strategy also involves establishing new entities to strengthen its data‑center and digital‑infrastructure businesses. Gulf Edge Data Center 02 was formally established to prepare for future data‑center development and operation.
The company’s plans have attracted attention from regulators and industry observers. Gulf has called for specific data‑center regulations to protect sensitive data, a request that echoes regulatory developments in Singapore and South Korea.
As Gulf moves forward, the company will continue to monitor feasibility studies, secure financing, and engage with government authorities to ensure its data‑center expansion aligns with national infrastructure and sustainability goals.
The next key milestones include finalising decisions on the 1–2 additional projects, completing construction of the Rayong facility, and achieving commercial operation of GSA02 in 2027. Gulf’s progress will be closely watched by investors, regulators and the Thai digital‑infrastructure market.
The company’s expansion plans are part of a broader effort to position Thailand as a regional hub for cloud and AI services, with Gulf Development playing a central role in building the necessary physical and energy infrastructure.
The company’s capital‑expenditure forecast, regulatory engagement, and partnership developments will shape the trajectory of Thailand’s data‑center industry over the next five years.
