AQ Compute to open a 50MW green data center in Barcelona

German company AQ Compute announced the opening of a new green data center in Barcelona in partnership with commercial real state firm CBRE. The agreement aims to make AQ Compute a pan-European leader in providing global clients with data centre services.

AQ Compute’s second data centre will be located in Parc de l’Alba (Barcelona), while the first one is located in Oslo (Norway). It will offer a capacity of 50 MW, 7,000 m² of total IT space, and is planned to be ready for operation by mid/end 2024. According to the company’s release, further jointly operated sites across Europe are scheduled.

All data centres are planned to be supplied with 100% renewable energy to satisfy the needs of hyperscalers, large enterprises and other organisations that require extensive computing capacity while meeting sustainability goals.

AQ Compute is the data centre business of Aquila Capital, an investment management and asset development company based in Hamburg, Germany. The company provides the financial leverage that will allow partners to build and operate their sites. Moreover, it’s planned to run data centres using clean energy stemming from hydropower, solar and wind energy plants managed by Aquila Capital.

CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, will lead in the selection of sites and will also act as the operator of selected sites and as a real estate and financial advisory services provider. CBRE currently manages over 850 data centres.

Petter M. Tømmeraas, CEO of AQ Compute, comments: “We are delighted to enter this extraordinary agreement that will reshape the landscape of data centre services in Europe with a focus on sustainability. The need for computing capacities is rising and, together with CBRE, we will be able to cater for the high demand from clients in Europe and across the globe.”

Enrique Martínez Laguna, Vice President of CBRE, adds: “Together, CBRE and AQ Compute are in the position to create a leading pan-European data centre operator. Our joint expertise and capabilities are unique in the market, and we are very much looking forward to leveraging the ideal locations for our first data centres.”

Source: AQ Compute