Apollo Global Management is joining a major artificial intelligence infrastructure project in Japan that is expected to require more than $15 billion in total capital.
The project is being developed by Japanese power company JERA, Dell Technologies and UK-based AI infrastructure company RHAELM. It will begin with a large hyperscale data center in Chiba, near Tokyo, as Japan moves to expand its computing capacity for AI.
Apollo will provide strategic investment and financing support to RHAELM for the project. The planned data center could eventually reach 400 megawatts (MW) of capacity, making it one of the largest single-site AI infrastructure projects in Japan. The companies announced the partnership on October 1, 2026.
Apollo Backs Japan’s $15 Billion AI Infrastructure Project
JERA, Japan’s largest power generator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dell Technologies and RHAELM to create a standardized model for developing AI infrastructure across Japan.
The first project under the plan will be built in Chiba, where JERA operates a thermal power station. Apollo is expected to provide strategic investment and financing support to RHAELM for the project.
JERA said total capital deployment for the Chiba project is expected to exceed $15 billion, covering land, power infrastructure, construction of the data center and AI computing equipment.
Reuters reported that the companies want to create a repeatable model that can reduce the time and complexity involved in building large AI data centers. The framework could later be used at other JERA sites across Japan.
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Chiba AI Data Center to Reach 400 MW Capacity by 2029
The planned facility will be located on land next to JERA’s Chiba power station. RHAELM will develop, construct, operate and finance the hyperscale AI data center. The facility is expected to have a power capacity of around 400 MW. JERA plans to provide the power under a long-term agreement lasting between 15 and 25 years.
The companies plan to begin operations in phases in 2028 and reach the full 400 MW capacity in 2029, according to Reuters. The project will use a “behind-the-meter” structure, allowing the data center to receive power directly from JERA’s generation assets rather than depending entirely on a conventional grid connection. JERA said this approach could shorten the time needed to bring new AI computing capacity online. Dell will provide standardized rack-scale AI infrastructure for the facility.
JERA and Partners Aim to Speed Up AI Data Center Construction
The partnership is focused on solving one of the major challenges facing large AI projects: bringing together electricity generation, power infrastructure, cooling systems, data center facilities and computing hardware.
Traditionally, these elements can require separate planning and development processes. JERA, Dell and RHAELM want to standardize these components so that similar facilities can be developed more quickly.
JERA said the companies will work on a model that can be repeated and scaled for additional AI infrastructure projects. The approach could also reduce the lead time associated with developing data centers, particularly in locations where access to reliable electricity is limited.
Japan Targets Multi-Gigawatt AI Infrastructure Expansion
The Chiba project is intended to be the starting point for a broader expansion of AI infrastructure in Japan. JERA and RHAELM said they will explore deploying the same model at other JERA sites. The companies aim to support multi-gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure capacity across Japan during the 2030s.
This would allow Japan to use existing power-generation locations as potential sites for new AI data centers. The strategy also reflects the increasing connection between the energy and AI industries. Advanced AI models require large amounts of computing power, while data centers need a stable supply of electricity to operate continuously.
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Apollo Expands Its Role in AI Infrastructure Financing
Apollo’s participation comes as financial firms are becoming increasingly involved in funding the physical infrastructure needed for AI. The asset manager has already announced several initiatives focused on financing AI computing capacity.
In August, NVIDIA announced partnerships with Apollo and several other financial firms to establish financing platforms that could mobilize more than $500 billion in third-party capital for AI infrastructure over time.
In June, Apollo and Blackstone also joined Broadcom to establish an AI infrastructure financing platform aimed at supporting more than 20 gigawatts of global AI deployments. The platform initially launched with a $35 billion transaction connected to Anthropic’s computing expansion.
The Japan project gives Apollo another opportunity to participate in the financing of large-scale AI infrastructure outside the United States.
Chiba Project Could Set a New Model for Japan’s AI Infrastructure
JERA described the Chiba facility as the first application of a national-scale AI infrastructure framework. The company said the project would be the largest single-site AI infrastructure deployment in Japan and one of the largest in Asia based on current standards.
The companies are also considering whether the model can eventually be applied in other global markets. For Japan, the plan could provide a way to develop AI computing facilities alongside existing energy infrastructure rather than treating data centers and power supply as separate projects.
The project also highlights the scale of investment now required to support advanced AI systems. As companies and governments seek greater access to AI computing, data center development is increasingly becoming a major infrastructure investment category.
Chiba AI Project Moves Toward 2028 Launch
The companies are expected to continue developing the Chiba project, with phased operations targeted for 2028 and full 400 MW capacity expected in 2029.
JERA and RHAELM will also examine other potential sites where the same infrastructure model could be deployed. The longer-term goal is to expand AI computing capacity across Japan through multiple large facilities.
If the Chiba project proceeds as planned, it could provide a template for combining power generation, data center construction and AI computing infrastructure in a single development model.
For Apollo, the project adds to its growing involvement in AI infrastructure finance, while for Japan, it represents another major step toward expanding domestic capacity for the rapidly growing demand for AI computing.
