Acciona and IGNIS have joined forces to develop a new data center in the province of Segovia, accompanied by an adjacent photovoltaic plant intended to supply renewable energy to the complex. The operation is organized through Ignis Data Epta, a company in which both companies now hold a 50% stake, strengthening Acciona’s entry into a market where power availability has become one of the main factors for advancing new projects.
The key facts about the Segovia data center in 20 seconds
- Acciona has acquired a 50% stake in Ignis Data Epta and shares the project with IGNIS.
- The future data center will be backed by an adjacent photovoltaic plant.
- Permits for access and electrical connection had been previously processed by companies linked to IGNIS.
- Acciona aims to develop a portfolio of up to 2 GW in data centers.
- The IT capacity, investment amount, exact location, and opening schedule have not been disclosed yet.
The partnership is particularly interesting because it combines from the outset two increasingly inseparable infrastructures: computing capacity and energy availability. New data centers, especially those designed for artificial intelligence workloads, require large amounts of electricity and connections capable of supporting significant power growth.
However, in this case, it is important to distinguish between photovoltaic generation and the continuous supply that a data center needs. A solar plant can reduce energy drawn from other sources during sunlight hours but does not provide power 24/7 on its own. The project will also need to rely on its grid connection and, depending on its final configuration, could incorporate other energy management tools.
Acciona acquires a 50% stake in the Epta project
The project is managed through Ignis Data Epta, a company established in 2024 that until now was fully owned by Ignis P2X.
Ignis P2X is, in turn, a platform owned 50% by IGNIS and the investment fund KKR. Official corporate documents outline this corporate structure and the platform’s focus on projects related to new energy infrastructures.
With this new transaction, Acciona has acquired a 50% stake in Ignis Data Epta, while IGNIS retains the other 50%. The deal also includes the joint acquisition of the photovoltaic plant located next to the future data center.
The necessary permits for grid access and connection had been previously obtained through two companies affiliated with IGNIS.
This is an important detail because having enough land to build a data center no longer guarantees project execution. Effective access to electrical power has become one of the most valuable assets in this market.
The proliferation of large computing facilities for cloud computing and artificial intelligence is prompting developers and operators to analyze early on the availability of grid infrastructure, substations, power lines, and nearby generation and storage options.
However, publicly available information so far does not clarify several key aspects of the Segovia project. The exact location, projected investment, IT capacity, photovoltaic plant size, or timeline for construction and commissioning have not been disclosed. It’s also not advisable to extrapolate electrical figures from other company developments to this project.
Acciona aims for a 2 GW portfolio of data centers
This move is part of a broader strategy by Acciona to expand into digital infrastructures.
Led by José Manuel Entrecanales, the company aims to develop a capacity of up to 2 GW associated with data centers, a business previously integrated within its Construction division and now managed by a dedicated unit, Acciona Data Centers.
The sector’s appeal is clear. The growth of cloud services, digital solutions, and especially artificial intelligence is accelerating the construction of facilities that require increasingly larger amounts of electrical power.
GPU accelerator clusters used for training and running AI models have a much higher energy density than most traditional IT infrastructure. This shifts the industry’s focus from just building buildings and installing servers to ensuring sufficient energy supply and continuous power for infrastructure that must operate 24/7.
Hence, companies traditionally associated with energy and infrastructure are increasing their presence in this sector.
IGNIS offers precisely a combination that fits this evolution. Its model includes grid access and connection, renewable generation, battery storage systems, long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), and energy management.
The Segovia project envisions an integrated setup where energy infrastructure is developed alongside the data center rather than as a later add-on.
The Fuenlabrada precedent: 82 MW grid access and a 94 MW solar plant
There is already another project that helps illustrate this model, though its figures should not be confused with those of the future Segovia center.
IGNIS reached an agreement related to the campus that Apto is developing in Fuenlabrada, Madrid. In that case, there are 82 MW of grid access and connection and a long-term PPA tied to a 94 MW photovoltaic facility developed and built by IGNIS.
The plant is estimated to produce approximately 171 GWh annually, according to project details.
This example illustrates how part of the Spanish data center market might evolve: first securing a combination of land, electrical connection, generation, and energy contracts, then deploying the IT capacity.
Spain has an especially favorable renewable resource, but this does not eliminate one of the main challenges of solar and wind energy: variability.
A data center requires electricity 24/7, 365 days a year, regardless of sunlight or wind conditions. Therefore, having a photovoltaic plant nearby does not mean the facility will operate solely with solar panels.
The grid will continue to play a vital role, as will storage systems, PPAs, and other tools capable of matching production with consumption over different periods.
This energy component can become as critical as the technological design of the center itself.
For Castilla y León, the Segovia project also represents a stronger position in the landscape of Spain’s emerging digital infrastructure, which has traditionally been centered around Madrid, with smaller hubs in Barcelona and Aragón.
While proximity to Madrid is advantageous, the final location and characteristics will need to be clarified before assessing the project’s true scale.
For now, the operation underscores a broader trend: the race to build data centers in Spain is also a race to secure megawatts. Acciona and IGNIS are approaching this with both digital infrastructure and energy generation/access in mind, from opposite angles of the same equation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the new Acciona and IGNIS data center be built?
The project will be located in the province of Segovia, Castilla y León. Available information does not specify the municipality or the exact site yet.
What power capacity will the Segovia data center have?
The IT capacity of the future complex has not been officially disclosed. Nor should it be confused with the 82 MW of grid access and connection associated with Apto’s Fuenlabrada project.
Will it operate solely with solar energy?
No announcement has been made indicating exclusive operation with photovoltaic energy. The project will feature an adjacent solar plant and grid connection, essential for ensuring a continuous supply.
What are Acciona’s objectives in the data center market?
Acciona aims to develop a portfolio of up to 2 GW capacity within its expansion into this sector.
