Merlin Properties opens a data center in Álava and announces new projects
Merlin Properties has opened the first building of its Bilbao-Aras ur data centre project in the logistics and industrial park in the Álava municipality of Ribabellosa, thus completing the first of the three planned phases. The REIT is inaugurating the first building of the data centre, which will be “the largest in Spain”.
The Bilbao-Arasur Data Center complex has inaugurated its first building in Ribabellosa (Álava), marking the completion of the first phase of a project that will culminate with the entry into operation of the largest data center of its kind in Spain.
This space, promoted by the company Merlin Properties, responds to the objective of responding to the growing need for cutting-edge digital infrastructures , which is growing exponentially due to the advancement of technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, according to the company promoting the project in a statement.
The data centre will be developed in three phases: the first, which will be completed with the building that has been inaugurated; the second, which includes two additional buildings and whose works will begin in the coming months ; and a third phase that will add another three assets to the campus. With its six buildings, this space will have a potential IT capacity of 300 MW.
The first building features cutting-edge technology in the sector, runs on 100% renewable energy and does not use water for cooling, characteristics that will be shared by the rest of the buildings that will make up the complex.
The Lehendakari , Imanol Pradales, has inaugurated the first building of the Bilbao-Arasur Data Center Campus that Merlin Properties is developing in the Arasur industrial and logistics park, in Ribabellosa (Álava).
Pradales considered that the centre is
An important step in the process of technological and digital transformation and in the promotion of new infrastructures for the data economy , also placing sustainability at the centre.
“We know that the new economy is already digital. This implies the creation of digital infrastructures, more connectivity, new high-value technological services, and the creation of an entire ecosystem that is being formed around it. In Euskadi we have sufficient capacities to take advantage of the opportunities offered by this new data economy.”
He cited as examples.
Our geostrategic location on the Atlantic Axis, as the arrival point for large transoceanic digital cables between the United States and Europe , which gives us very low latency for digital communications.
“We have the strength of an advanced industrial and services fabric, which account for 40% of our GDP. We have been promoting new projects linked to Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, Industry 5.0 and quantum technologies. But being necessary conditions they are not sufficient. We must also accelerate the digital transition and transformation of our economic fabric, especially among our SMEs.”
The Lehendakari continued that,
As Mario Draghi highlights in his report, investment in digital infrastructure is crucial to ensure that Europe remains competitive against the United States and China.
He explained,
These infrastructures are essential to offer cutting-edge services to our companies and industry. To store, process and manage digital information,
The opening ceremony was also attended by the executive director of Merlin Properties, Ismael Clemente; the deputy general of Álava, Ramiro González; and the mayor of Ribera Baja, Amado Martínez de Iturrate, among other institutional representatives.
The largest projected
This first building marks the completion of the first phase of development of the Bilbao-Arasur Data Center Campus which, once fully developed, will have a potential IT capacity of 300 MW, positioning itself as “the largest campus in Spain, one of the largest in Europe, and the largest projected to date ” by Merlin Properties, the company reported in a statement.
Clemente said that this complex is,
An example of the leading role that the Basque Country will play in this sector, due to its strategic location in terms of submarine interconnections and for being the first region to have a data center designed for cutting-edge artificial intelligence , powered by renewable energy and among the most sustainable and efficient at an international level.
The complex benefits from proximity to “key” submarine cables, such as Marea (Virginia Beach-Sopelana), Grace Hopper (New York-Sopelana) and soon Anjana (Myrtle Beach-Somo), which consolidate the Iberian Peninsula as a “data gateway” from the United States to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
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Merlin Properties opens a data center in Álava and announces new projects, source
