US tech giant Microsoft is set to invest €2.2 billion in a new data centre project in Aragon, according to the government of the Spanish region, which aims to become a nerve center for cloud computing.
This investment, a hefty addition to other projects by the US tech giant, brings Microsoft's total planned expenditure in the region to €6.7 billion, Aragon's premier, Jorge Azcón, disclosed on Wednesday.
The corporation had announced the latest data centre venture back in October, explaining that it was aimed mainly at providing cloud computing services to European businesses and public bodies. However, the exact financial commitment had not been clarified.
According to an International Data Corporation (IDC) analysis report quoted by Microsoft, the new data centre project, to be situated on an 88-hectare campus, could result in 2,100 new jobs between 2026 and 2030.
Major tech operators have been increasing their investments in data centres in recent months. These facilities house servers that store the vast amounts of digital data used by both businesses and individuals.
This surge, driven in part by the extreme requirements of generative AI development, necessitates locations with significant electrical capacity, as these 'data farms' consume high volumes of energy.
A sparsely populated, sun-drenched, and wind-swept region in northeastern Spain, Aragon hosts large solar and wind farms and boasts excellent connectivity to Spanish communication networks. This makes it an ideal location for the tech operators.
