Green Mountain, a leading data center operator, has announced a groundbreaking partnership to develop a sustainable data center campus in Mainz, Germany. The campus site, spanning an impressive 25,000 sqm (269,100 sq ft), aims to become a symbol of technical excellence and sustainability. The project is set to be completed in the first quarter of 2025, with the first 18MW building nearing completion.
Expansion Plans
The Mainz data center campus holds tremendous potential, with plans indicating a total capacity of 54MW across three buildings. By offering a three-building setup, the campus is designed to meet the growing demands of businesses and industries relying on robust and secure data storage solutions. This expansion will provide ample space for future growth and ensure long-term scalability.
Sustainable Partnership
The partnership between Green Mountain and the data center is rooted in their shared commitment to sustainability. Green Mountain, renowned for its environmentally conscious practices, brings its expertise to this venture. The collaboration aims to deliver an innovative data center campus that meets the highest industry standards for sustainability.
Cooling and Waste Heat Utilization
In an effort to reduce energy consumption and minimize environmental impact, the data center will implement a unique cooling system. Leveraging the nearby river Rhine, the facility will utilize its water resources to cool the servers, resulting in significant energy savings. Moreover, the waste heat produced during the cooling process will be harnessed and redirected into Mainz’s existing district heating network. This innovative approach maximizes energy utilization and provides a sustainable heating solution for the city.
Energy Efficiency Measures
One of the primary goals of the Mainz data center campus is to achieve exceptional energy efficiency. The facility aims for an impressive Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.3. This target underscores the commitment to minimizing energy waste and reducing carbon emissions. To ensure uninterrupted operations, the data center will rely on a KMW gas plant for backup power, eliminating the need for traditional diesel generators. This move towards cleaner and more reliable energy sources further supports the sustainability objectives of the project.
Flexibility for Clients
The Mainz data center campus is designed to accommodate a diverse range of client requirements. It offers the flexibility to support multi-tenant contracts, allowing businesses to share resources and costs while maintaining data security and integrity. Simultaneously, the campus is equipped to handle dedicated buildings for larger client installations, ensuring a customized and scalable infrastructure for businesses with extensive data storage needs. This versatility caters to a wide spectrum of industries and positions the data center as a preferred partner for businesses across sectors.
Background of Green Mountain
Founded in 2009, Green Mountain has established a strong reputation as a leading data center operator. The company operates three sites in Norway, including Oslo, Rjukan, and Rennesøy. Green Mountain’s focus on sustainability and technical excellence has garnered recognition and attracted clients who prioritize environmentally conscious solutions.
Acquisition by Azrieli Group
In 2021, Azrieli Group, a prominent real estate firm, acquired Green Mountain from Norwegian real estate company Smedvig for $850 million. This strategic move strengthens Azrieli Group’s presence in the data center industry and underscores its commitment to sustainable growth. The acquisition not only provides financial support for the Mainz data center campus project but also showcases confidence in Green Mountain’s expertise and sustainable business practices.
The upcoming data center campus in Mainz represents a significant milestone for the industry, combining technical excellence and sustainability. The partnership between Green Mountain and the data center creates a unique opportunity to build an environmentally friendly, high-performing facility. With its innovative cooling system, waste heat utilization, energy-efficient measures, and flexible infrastructure, the Mainz data center campus is poised to meet the evolving needs of businesses while minimizing environmental impact. As the completion of the first building draws near, anticipation grows for the opening of this state-of-the-art data center campus, setting a new benchmark for sustainable data storage solutions.