Apto targets 240MW data centre campus with €2bn (US$2.3bn) investment in Fuenlabrada as Madrid becomes one of Europe’s fastest-growing cloud regions
Apto has announced plans to invest up to €2bn (US$2.3bn) in a hyperscale data centre campus in Madrid, marking a major expansion of its European digital infrastructure portfolio.
The project will be located on a 195,000m² site in Fuenlabrada, around 14km from Madrid’s city centre.
Once complete, the campus is expected to become the largest data centre development in the Madrid cloud region.
Previously home to an industrial bottling plant, the site has been cleared and prepared for development as part of a brownfield regeneration project.
The campus is designed to support growing demand for hyperscale computing capacity from cloud providers and enterprises deploying large-scale digital services.
Construction is expected to begin immediately following approval of the building permit for the first phase of development.
Russell Poole, CEO of Apto, says: “Madrid has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s most dynamic digital hubs, and our investment here reflects both the scale of demand and the strength of the region’s long-term fundamentals.
“This landmark campus will give hyperscale customers the capacity, resilience and sustainability they need to grow, while delivering lasting benefits for the local economy and community.
“It is a major step in Apto’s mission to build world-class, sustainable infrastructure across Europe’s leading cloud regions.”
A hyperscale campus designed for growth
The planned campus will ultimately comprise five data centres with a combined capacity of up to 240MW.
Initial site preparation work has already been completed, including the construction of an on-site 40MW substation designed to support the first phase of operations.
Apto has now begun work on the second phase of development, representing 122MW of capacity.
The company says it is targeting a power strategy where 50% of total energy consumption across the first two phases will come from 100% green energy sources.
The project forms part of Apto’s wider strategy to develop hyperscale-ready infrastructure in one of Europe’s fastest-growing cloud markets.
Madrid has become an increasingly attractive location for data centre investment in recent years, supported by strong fibre and subsea cable connectivity linking the Iberian Peninsula with international digital networks.
The region also benefits from a high level of renewable energy generation, particularly solar power, and competitive energy costs compared with other European markets.
Local partnership and planning expertise
To support the project’s development, Apto has partnered with Arnaiz, a Spanish urban planning and real estate development firm with more than 50 years of experience in the country.
The partnership combines Apto’s experience developing hyperscale infrastructure with Arnaiz’s local planning knowledge and established relationships within Spain’s development sector.
The project has received support from regional and municipal institutions including the Comunidad de Madrid, Invest in Madrid and the Fuenlabrada municipality.
Rocío Albert, Councillor for Economy, Taxation and Employment of the Comunidad de Madrid, says: “It’s a fundamental project in Fuenlabrada, in an area that was a completely disused industrial zone, which is going to be turned into a data centre that will provide support for cloud services as well as artificial intelligence, which are so necessary to attract high economic value companies to the Community of Madrid.”
The investment is also supported by the European Union through the InvestEU Partnership.
Regeneration and community impact
The Fuenlabrada campus is being developed as a brownfield regeneration project designed to revitalise a former industrial site.
Plans include significant landscaping works, with thousands of trees and shrubs expected to be planted across the campus.
Public walking paths and recreational areas will also be included as part of the development.
The project’s design incorporates sustainable construction practices, renewable energy generation and mobility initiatives aimed at encouraging low-emission transport options for employees and visitors.
Apto says the campus will also deliver economic benefits for the region through job creation and local business activity during both construction and operational phases.
According to industry association Spain DC, each euro invested in data centre infrastructure generates more than seven euros in economic value for local communities.
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