The new Digital Realty data center in Barcelona has received the chillers and dry coolers that will ensure the thermal efficiency of its technical rooms. A video showcases the process in under two minutes.
The new data center of Digital Realty (formerly InterXion) in Barcelona is progressing steadily. One of the most significant milestones in the construction phase has just been completed: the installation of the cooling systems, essential for maintaining thermal performance and operational security in the technical rooms where racks, servers, and mission-critical networking equipment will reside.
Through its official YouTube channel, Digital Realty has shared a video of less than two minutes that shows the arrival and elevation of chillers and dry coolers to the roof, a highly complex logistical operation reflecting both the industrial scale of this equipment and the level of expertise required for proper installation.
What role do these units play?
The chillers and dry coolers are fundamental components of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system in a data center. In this case, the implemented solution is designed to:
- Maximize energy efficiency
- Minimize water consumption, a priority in urban environments like Barcelona
- Reduce carbon footprint with free cooling technologies whenever climatic conditions permit
This type of infrastructure allows for maintaining constant temperatures and relative humidity in the technical rooms, protecting servers from overheating and extending their lifespan.
A new milestone in Digital Realty’s deployment in Spain
Digital Realty already has four data centers in Madrid—connected to its global ecosystem—and this new building in Barcelona marks its first foray into Catalonia, a region with strong digital growth and strategic access to international fiber networks.
The installation of the cooling systems is one of the last steps before the interior fit-out of the rooms, where the following will be enabled:
- Direct connections with the major public clouds (AWS, Azure, Google, IBM, Oracle)
- Connectivity with local operators and telco networks
- Access to content distribution platforms (CDNs)
- Hybrid interconnection with other regions via Digital Realty’s global platform
Beyond the building: efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity
Digital Realty’s commitment to energy-efficient cooling solutions addresses the growing demand for sustainability in the data center sector. The company has stated that all its new projects incorporate technologies that:
- Meet the most stringent efficiency standards (such as ASHRAE or ISO 50001)
- Aim for a competitive PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)
- Utilize 100% renewable energy when available locally
Conclusion
The installation of these cooling systems marks a new advance in the deployment of Digital Realty’s data center in Barcelona, an infrastructure that will not only provide the city with new interconnection capabilities and critical infrastructure but also reinforces Spain’s position as a digital hub in southern Europe.
The company’s transparency in showcasing these processes through video helps to highlight the engineering that supports the digital economy: a combination of precision, sustainability, and technical capability.