London-based data centre provider Virtus has announced a €3bn ($3.22bn) mega-campus project near Berlin. Targeting hyperscale, government, and enterprise customers, the Green Data Centre in Berlin is expected to serve as a major accelerator for cloud computing and AI services across Europe.
Meeting Europe’s Booming Demand for Cloud and AI
Christina Mertens, vice-president of business development for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Virtus, emphasizes the project’s significance, saying:
“This ambitious undertaking is Virtus’ second site in the Berlin Brandenburg region and follows hot on the heels of the announcement of our Berlin Marienpark Campus in May 2023.”
The new data centre will be situated 12 km from Berlin’s city center in Wustermark, and aims to deliver 300MW of incoming power across two campuses. This move is perfectly timed to cater to Europe’s rapidly growing cloud computing industry, which is projected to reach a market value of €157.31bn by 2027 according to GlobalData.
A Stride Towards Environmental Sustainability
“In addition, Virtus will work with the grid operator to use renewable energy from onshore wind farms—a move in line with company plans to achieve net-zero emissions on all its reportable activities by 2030,” adds Mertens.
This commitment to sustainability is aligned with Virtus’s broader vision and aligns well with the company’s goals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.
Berlin as a Hub for Innovation and Investment
“Berlin is a major tech hub in Europe, becoming a hotbed for start-ups and entrepreneurs,” according to Start-Up Map Berlin, which also states that approximately 5,809 verified startups and 223 venture capital investors are currently in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. This makes the Virtus Green Data Centre Berlin a key addition to this vibrant startup ecosystem.
A greener future is in the cloud…
The Virtus Wustermark Campus is set to become operational by 2026, promising to deliver not only technological advancements but also environmental stewardship. As we watch Berlin and Europe at large embrace a tech-forward, green future, we can’t help but be optimistic about what this means for both industry growth and climate goals. We would love to hear your thoughts on this exciting development. Feel free to leave a comment below!
