Panel – Funding Growth: how community expectations are reshaping digital infrastructure investment

Community opposition is no longer viewed solely as a communications challenge. It is increasingly being assessed as a project and investment risk. Questions around energy consumption, water use, land use and local impact are influencing permitting outcomes, project timelines and the overall attractiveness of development opportunities. As capital providers scrutinise development risk more closely, community acceptance is becoming an increasingly important factor in determining which projects can attract investment and which struggle to move forward. With more than $1 trillion expected to be invested in data centre infrastructure by 2030, how are investors distinguishing between ambitious growth stories and projects that are truly financeable, deliverable and scalable?

• What separates the projects that attract capital from those that struggle to secure investment?
• How are investors evaluating community risks and scrutiny alongside traditional financial metrics?
• What secures investor confidence in a proposed project?

For information on how to attend the Social Licence Forum, please email: louise.burrett@techoraco.com