Schwarz Group, the parent company of the German retail giant Lidl, is taking significant steps to expand its technological infrastructure with the development of a large-scale data center campus in Lübbenau, Brandenburg. This new facility, which will span across 13 hectares, is projected to deliver a total power capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) spread across six distinct buildings.
What Will the Lübbenau Data Center Campus Serve?
The data center complex will cater to both Schwarz Group’s retail operations and its expanding cloud services division, StackIT. These data centers will primarily support internal business functions while also contributing to the company’s broader digital ambitions in the cloud computing space. The first building of the campus is expected to be operational by the end of 2027.
Energy and Sustainability Features of the Data Center Campus
One of the key sustainability features of the new campus is its plan to offer waste heat generated by the data center to the local municipality. This initiative reflects a growing trend in the industry to utilize excess energy from data centers for local community benefits, enhancing the campus’s overall environmental footprint.
Lübbenau’s Strategic Location for Data Centers
Lübbenau, located approximately 90 km south of Berlin, was previously home to a 1.3GW coal power plant, which was decommissioned and demolished in 1996. The land is now a commercial zone, making it an ideal location for large-scale industrial projects like the Schwarz Group’s data center campus. The presence of Schwarz Group’s Kaufland division logistics center nearby since 1996 further strengthens the strategic importance of this site.
Schwarz Group’s Expanding Cloud Division: StackIT
The data center campus is integral to the future of StackIT, Schwarz Group’s cloud division launched in May 2022. StackIT aims to provide a European cloud solution rooted in Germany. The company’s existing data centers in Neckarsulm, Ellhofen (Germany), and Ostermiething (Austria) are currently operational, serving its cloud and IT needs.
StackIT’s facilities are designed with advanced energy efficiency in mind. For example, its data center in Ostermiething utilizes river cooling, contributing to a PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) of just 1.1 in its first phase. The second phase of this facility will offer an additional 4,500 square meters of space, which will further expand the company’s capacity to serve European businesses.
Collaboration with Google on Sovereign Storage
In addition to its expansion efforts, Schwarz Group’s StackIT has entered into a strategic partnership with Google to provide sovereign storage options for Google Workspace customers. This collaboration will allow organizations to leverage cloud solutions while ensuring that their data remains within European legal boundaries.
FAQ: Key Insights on Schwarz Group’s Data Center Plans
1. What is the total power capacity of the new data center campus in Lübbenau?
The new campus will have a total power capacity of 200MW, spread across six buildings.
2. When will the first building of the campus be completed?
The first building of the data center campus is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
3. What will the data centers serve?
The data centers will support both Schwarz Group’s retail operations and its cloud services division, StackIT.
4. How will the data center campus contribute to local sustainability?
The campus will provide waste heat to the local municipality, enhancing its sustainability profile.
5. What is StackIT’s mission?
StackIT aims to offer a European cloud solution with a focus on data sovereignty, with its data centers located in Germany and Austria.
