
Colossus 1: xAI’s Ambitious 500 MW Energy Deployment
xAI’s Colossus 1 data center in Memphis, Tennessee has become one of the largest energy consumers among AI facilities in the United States. The project was built under strong opposition from the local community and has advanced rapidly in its power development. Today, the facility combines grid supply, on-site natural gas turbines, and battery storage to reach a combined capacity of nearly 500 MW, well above typical hyperscale data center power levels. Its expansion is happening alongside other xAI projects in the region, like the nearby Macroharder campus, raising questions about how rapidly AI infrastructure can scale, even within constrained energy systems.
Ana Valencia
Data Analyst


































