Edged Energy, a leading data center firm, and Merlin Properties, a major real estate company, have announced plans to develop two large-scale data center campuses in Spain. These facilities will be located in Extremadura, a region renowned for its renewable energy potential and robust infrastructure.
Strategic Location: Extremadura, Spain
The two campuses will be situated in the municipalities of Navalmoral de la Mata in Cáceres Province and Valdecaballeros in Badajoz Province. Each campus is set to offer up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity, positioning them among some of the largest data center developments in Europe. This initiative is part of a broader public-private collaboration with the regional government of Extremadura.
The region offers competitive advantages such as reliable, low-cost renewable energy, and exceptional fiber connectivity, making it an ideal location for large-scale data center development.
Sustainable and Efficient Data Centers with Waterless Cooling Technology
One of the key features of these data centers is their use of innovative waterless cooling technology. This cutting-edge approach will allow the facilities to achieve densities of up to 200 kilowatts (kW) per rack, with a targeted Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.15. By minimizing water usage and optimizing energy efficiency, these campuses will set new standards for sustainability in the data center industry.
Edged Energy’s CEO, Jakob Carnemark, emphasized the company’s commitment to creating data centers that have a positive environmental impact. The facilities will align with Extremadura’s efforts to use innovation and technology to combat climate change and preserve the region’s natural resources.
A New Era of Data Center Development in Rural Spain
Merlin Properties, which entered the data center market in 2021 through its partnership with Edged Energy, continues to expand its footprint across Spain and Portugal. This joint venture aims to develop additional facilities in key locations such as Bilbao, Madrid-Getafe, Barcelona, and Lisbon. These sites are expected to provide substantial capacity, with initial phases totaling up to 60 megawatts (MW) and eventual growth to over 200MW.
María Guardiola, the President of Extremadura’s Regional Government, expressed confidence that this initiative would help showcase rural areas in Spain as hubs for advanced technology and innovation. The data centers will tap into the region’s energy advantages and further strengthen its position in the global digital economy.
Key Partnerships and Investment in Data Center Infrastructure
Edged Energy and Merlin Properties are also backed by significant financial investment, with Merlin raising over $1 billion for data center expansion. The partnership has already led to the establishment of several data centers across Spain, with Meta reportedly being the main customer for the first three facilities.
As demand for cloud computing and data storage continues to surge, these new campuses are poised to play a critical role in supporting digital infrastructure across the Iberian Peninsula.
Development Timelines and Future Prospects
Although specific timelines for the development of the Extremadura campuses have not been disclosed, the project is poised to become a cornerstone of the region’s technological landscape. The collaboration between the public and private sectors demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering sustainable growth and innovation in Spain’s data center sector.
FAQ Section
1. What are the expected capacities of the two data center campuses in Extremadura? Each campus will offer up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity, totaling 2GW between the two locations.
2. What technology will be used for cooling the data centers? The data centers will employ waterless cooling technology, which helps reduce water consumption while maintaining high energy efficiency.
3. Why was Extremadura chosen as the location for these data centers? Extremadura offers competitive advantages such as low-cost renewable energy, reliable fiber connectivity, and proximity to key submarine cable connections, making it ideal for data center development.
4. How will the data centers contribute to sustainability? The facilities will target a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.15 and incorporate waterless cooling, both of which contribute to reducing environmental impact and improving energy efficiency.
5. Who are the key stakeholders in this project? The development is a collaboration between Edged Energy, Merlin Properties, and the regional government of Extremadura.
