Mora, in Toledo, is preparing to enter the Spanish map of major data centers. The municipality will host the Malpica AI 300MW project, a campus focused on artificial intelligence workloads that envisions an investment nearing 3 billion euros and a total capacity of 300 MW IT. The initiative is led by a consortium headed by EdgeMode and Bloom Energy and has been publicly introduced with institutional backing from the City Council.
This project is significant for a medium-sized town. If the announced forecasts are met, construction could generate close to 3,000 direct jobs during the building phase and provide between 500 and 900 permanent positions once the complex is operational. For Mora, traditionally more reliant on the agro-food sector, local services, and activity, the arrival of a campus of this size would represent a substantive change.
The presentation held in the municipality was attended by Mayor Emilio Bravo, along with representatives from the promoting companies, including Charlie Faulkner, CEO of EdgeMode, and Reto Zueger, Europe Director of Bloom Energy. The City Council has expressed its support for the project’s development, seeing it as an opportunity for investment, employment, and business activity for the town and its surroundings.
A 300 MW IT campus on 21.88 hectares
The future Malpica AI 300MW data center has been designed on a 21.88-hectare site and will feature two main buildings. Each will have a planned capacity of 150 MW IT, reaching a total of 300 MW IT. This scale is intended to host high-density computing infrastructure, particularly related to artificial intelligence, model training, inference, and high-energy cloud services.
| Main project data | Forecasted details |
|---|---|
| Location | Mora, Toledo |
| Project name | Malpica AI 300MW |
| Surface area | 21.88 hectares |
| Data center buildings | 2 |
| Capacity per building | 150 MW IT |
| Total capacity | 300 MW IT |
| Estimated investment | 3 billion euros |
| Construction jobs | Approximately 3,000 direct positions |
| Permanent employment | Between 500 and 900 jobs |
The announced power capacity places the project in a category far above many traditional data centers. Artificial intelligence has changed the scale of needs: large technical rooms for conventional servers are no longer sufficient. New campuses must provide significant energy, cooling, connectivity, physical security, and capacity to operate high-density hardware.
This is one reason why data centers are now strategic assets. The demand for GPUs and specialized AI systems has driven new infrastructure development across Europe, as operators seek locations with available land, energy access, connectivity, legal stability, and institutional support. In this context, Castilla-La Mancha is starting to gain visibility due to its geographic position, land availability, and proximity to major consumption and connectivity hubs such as Madrid.
Self-generated energy to accelerate timelines
One of the most distinctive aspects of the project is its energy strategy. According to the presented information, Malpica AI 300MW will generate its own power using Bloom Energy’s technology based on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) fueled by natural gas. The proposal aims to reduce dependence on the conventional electricity grid and shorten commissioning timelines, which the developers estimate at 18 to 24 months.
Energy access has become one of the sector’s main bottlenecks. Many data center projects stall not just due to lack of land or investment, but because of difficulties in obtaining sufficient power within reasonable timeframes. For AI facilities, this pressure is even greater since they require higher electrical density and very high availability.
Bloom Energy’s approach is seen as a way to enable onsite generation. Early this year, EdgeMode announced a feasibility study for the Mora campus, involving SOFC systems that are “hydrogen-ready”, initially fueled by natural gas, with options for carbon capture integration. The project also includes installing 60 MWp of photovoltaic solar energy on the buildings’ rooftops, with 30 MWp per building.
| Planned energy system | Details |
| Main generation | Bloom Energy SOFC modules |
| Fuel used | Natural gas |
| Approach | Onsite energy generation |
| Photovoltaic on roofs | 60 MWp |
| Photovoltaic per building | 30 MWp |
| Estimated commissioning timeline | Between 18 and 24 months |
This energy approach will require careful analysis during project permitting and development. While onsite generation can speed up power availability, it also raises questions about emissions, gas supply, environmental impact, permits, and compatibility with decarbonization goals. The developers argue for its efficiency and operational sustainability, but the scale of a 300 MW campus mandates thorough assessment.
An opportunity for Mora and a challenge for the region
For Mora, hosting a data center of this scale could mean a profound economic transformation. During construction, auxiliary companies, engineering, civil works, electrical installations, security, transportation, maintenance, and local services would see activity increase. Once operational, the campus could attract technical profiles and companies involved in energy, telecommunications, industrial maintenance, IT services, and critical infrastructure operation.
The impact extends beyond direct employment. Such a project could promote specialized vocational training, partnerships with educational centers, housing demand, services for workers, local suppliers, and new opportunities for regional businesses. It could also elevate Mora and Toledo’s profile in national and international digital infrastructure discussions, an uncommon prominence outside large urban centers.
However, development also presents challenges. AI data centers consume large amounts of energy, require high-capacity connectivity, security, urban planning, and a clear relationship with the surroundings. Community coexistence, landscape impact, construction mobility, water and cooling needs, land use, and tangible benefits for local populations will be key considerations throughout the process.
Castilla-La Mancha has already been highlighted in various investment plans regarding data centers, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure. Mora’s case stands out for its size and commitment to an autonomous energy architecture. If the project proceeds as announced, this municipality could become one of the significant nodes in the new European AI capacity network that EdgeMode aims to develop in Spain.
The AI race is not only fought in labs or software companies; it is also decided in municipalities capable of hosting infrastructure with land, energy, connectivity, and social acceptance. Mora has just entered this race with an ambitious project, with significant potential economic impact, and many phases ahead. The promise is immense. Now, the most critical part begins: turning the announcement into a real investment, well-integrated into the community, and capable of delivering lasting value to the town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Malpica AI 300MW project?
Malpica AI 300MW is a data center project focused on artificial intelligence, planned in Mora, Toledo. It features two buildings with a total capacity of 300 MW IT.
How much investment does the Mora center entail?
The announced investment is approximately 3 billion euros, according to information from the promoters and Mora’s City Council.
How many jobs could it generate?
The project anticipates around 3,000 direct jobs during construction and between 500 and 900 permanent roles once the campus is operational.
How will the data center be powered?
The campus will have its own power generation using Bloom Energy’s SOFC modules fueled by natural gas, along with 60 MWp of photovoltaic solar energy installed on the rooftops of the buildings.
via: Facebook Mora
