Campus Data Navarra: The New Giant of the North Driving Europe’s Digital Future

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Navarra is preparing to host the largest data center in northern Spain. The project, named Campus Data Navarra, represents a strategic investment by Grupo VDR to transform the region into a new European digital hub. Located in the Gazólaz industrial park in the Cendea de Cizur, this massive facility will process and store information on a large scale, boosting sectors such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and cloud computing.

The scale of the project is considerable: an estimated investment of €3.3 billion and the creation of up to 2,600 direct and indirect jobs during its construction and operation phases. Its design includes four buildings with a total area of 200,000 square meters, which will be developed between 2027 and 2029, reaching a final energy capacity of 300 megawatts (MW).

A Strategic and Ready Location

Unlike other projects still in preliminary phases, Campus Data Navarra has a significant advantage: the land is already developed, which speeds up execution and reduces startup timelines. Its location next to the Autovía del Camino (A-12) and close to the A-15 places the campus in a key logistical hub within the Bilbao-Zaragoza-Barcelona corridor, facilitating interconnection with submarine cables that lead to the Mediterranean and Cantabrian seas.

Moreover, the proximity to the Orkoien electrical substation (just 3 kilometers away) enables planning a direct 220 kV connection, an essential element to ensure the stable and high-power supply required for a facility of this nature.

Green Energy, Favorable Climate, and Sustainability

Navarra stands out not only for its location but also for its energy surplus: it generates 142% more energy than it consumes, in contrast to communities like Madrid, which produce only about 3% of what they use. This energy differential makes the region an ideal place for installing data centers with high energy demands and a sustainable vision.

Additionally, the moderate climate of the Pamplona region allows for reduced cooling costs, one of the most demanding components in terms of energy efficiency. This promotes a sustainable operational model that aligns with the goals of the European Green Deal.

A Project in Step with Europe

Campus Data Navarra is not an isolated project; it is part of a continental trend: the European Commission has declared data centers as critical infrastructures for the digital and economic sovereignty of the EU. According to their forecasts, the community bloc needs to triple its current capacity of data centers in the next five to seven years, aiming to meet the needs of businesses and public administrations by 2035.

In this context, infrastructures like Campus Data Navarra not only stimulate regional growth but also strengthen Spain’s role in the European data network and provide a real alternative to the congestion faced by other markets like Madrid or Barcelona.

Expected Timeline

The official planning of the project is expected to be approved between late 2025 and early 2026. From there, technical work will begin: drafting execution projects, environmental assessments, public tenders, and finally, the start of construction in 2027, with the goal of being fully operational by 2029.

Navarra as a New Digital Node in Southern Europe

The arrival of Campus Data Navarra marks a turning point in the region’s digitalization. Connectivity, sustainability, skilled employment, and a commitment to emerging technologies combine in an infrastructure that positions Navarra on the European data map.

“This data center will not only manage millions of gigabytes. It will also be a motor for economic and social transformation for the entire region,” emphasize those from Grupo VDR.

In a global environment where data is the new oil, Navarra is preparing to refine it with clean energy, local talent, and a vision for the future.

via: Noticias de Navarra

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