Ferrovial has chosen Alcobendas to make a significant leap in digital infrastructure. The company will develop a data center campus in the Valdelacasa area, Madrid, with an estimated investment of 1 billion euros and a capacity exceeding 100 MW once the project is fully deployed. The initiative will be built on four urbanized plots and will cover approximately 32,000 square meters.
The first phase, called MAD01, involves the construction of a data center at 10-16 Monte de Valdelatas Avenue, with 60 MW of available power, of which 40 MW will be allocated to IT load, i.e., the capacity directly dedicated to computing equipment. This initial stage will have an investment of 153 million euros and is expected to create around fifty permanent direct jobs.
The project has been declared of Special Interest by the Community of Madrid and is being processed through the Regional Investment Accelerator, a mechanism designed to coordinate and expedite large business initiatives. According to information shared by the regional government and reported by local media, the campus already has favorable reports in urban planning, digital strategy, and energy transition, in addition to the permit to begin land excavation.
A phased infrastructure
The campus design follows the common model of large data center developments: building in phases and expanding capacity as demand grows. This approach allows for adjusting investment, electrical connections, civil works, and technical deployment without having to execute the entire project from day one.
| Project Data | Announced Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Planned Investment | 1 billion euros |
| Approximate campus surface | 32,000 m² |
| Number of plots | 4 |
| Estimated total capacity | Over 100 MW |
| First phase | MAD01 |
| Available power in MAD01 | 60 MW |
| IT load in MAD01 | 40 MW |
| Initial investment | 153 million euros |
| Projected direct employment in the first phase | About 50 permanent jobs |
In a data center, the total power figure does not precisely equate to useful computing capacity. Some energy is used for cooling, electrical distribution, auxiliary systems, security, monitoring, and backup. That’s why it’s important to distinguish between available power and IT load. The 40 MW IT in the first phase is the figure that best reflects the capacity allocated to servers, storage, and networking equipment.
The deployment will also require associated electrical infrastructure. Large campuses do not depend solely on the technical building: they need high-voltage connections, substations, uninterruptible power supplies, backup generators, cooling systems, and fiber networks. In a market where power availability has become one of the main bottlenecks, securing energy and permits is almost as important as land access.
Ferrovial accelerates its digital diversification
Ferrovial’s entry into this project is not isolated. In October 2025, the company announced the acquisition of Powernet, a Spanish engineering firm specializing in the design, installation, maintenance, and operation of data centers, as well as telecommunications and systems solutions. Ferrovial presented this acquisition as a way to strengthen its data center construction area.
This move aligns with a clear trend: major infrastructure companies are viewing data centers as an increasingly strategic asset. It’s not just about building buildings. It involves land development, permitting, energy coordination, executing complex civil works, integrating critical systems, and operating at very high levels of availability.
For Ferrovial, the Alcobendas campus represents a step further. The company is not only a builder or contractor but also a promoter of an asset linked to the digital economy. It is a way to diversify into a segment where real estate investment, electrical engineering, connectivity, and technological demand converge.
Artificial intelligence and cloud computing are boosting data center capacity needs but are also changing project profiles. AI workloads require much higher energy density, advanced cooling, and high-performance internal networks. This favors operators and investors capable of executing large, scalable projects with access to ample power.
Madrid maintains leadership, but energy constraints dominate
Madrid remains the main hub for data centers in Spain. Its appeal comes from the concentration of companies, fiber connectivity, cloud providers, the tech ecosystem, and proximity to corporate clients. Recent sector reports position Madrid as one of Europe’s fastest-growing data center markets, though with increasing pressure on electrical availability.
The Spain DC report released in 2026 indicated that installed IT capacity in Spanish data centers reached 439 MW at the end of 2025, a 24% increase over the previous year, with projections suggesting it could nearly multiply by six by 2030 if sector forecasts are met.
This expansion is not limited to Madrid. Network pressure, connection timelines, and the need for large parcels with energy access are pushing new developments toward Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Valencia, and other markets with available land and better electrical infrastructure access.
Ferrovial’s project confirms Madrid’s continued attraction for investment, but it also illustrates the conditions now becoming necessary: organized land, prioritized processing, guaranteed power, connectivity, and phased execution capability.
Alcobendas strengthens its role as a tech hub
Alcobendas is already part of the Spanish data center map. The northern Madrid area hosts several developments due to its combination of industrial land, connectivity, and proximity to the region’s economic core. Ferrovial’s arrival reinforces this position and adds a new industrial player to a market previously dominated by specialized operators, infrastructure funds, and colocation platforms.
The direct economic impact on employment will be limited compared to a traditional factory—something common in data centers, which are capital- and energy-intensive but not heavily reliant on permanent labor. The first phase is expected to generate around 50 permanent jobs. The impact could be greater in construction, engineering, maintenance, security, electricity, telecommunications, and auxiliary services.
The strategic value lies elsewhere. A campus with over 100 MW can attract cloud clients, AI workloads, connectivity providers, integrators, and companies needing critical infrastructure near Madrid. It also enhances the region’s image as a digital hub, provided growth is accompanied by energy planning, sustainability, grid connection, and transparency regarding consumption.
Ferrovial’s entry sends a clear message: data centers have shifted from being specialized businesses to essential infrastructure assets. Like highways, airports, electrical grids, or telecommunications, computing capacity is increasingly regarded as a vital asset supporting growing business activity.
The Alcobendas campus will not just be a technological real estate project; it will be another example showing how Spain, especially Madrid, can absorb demand from cloud computing and AI without energy shortages, permitting issues, or land availability bottlenecks hindering deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will Ferrovial build in Alcobendas?
A data center campus in the Valdelacasa area, Madrid, with a total planned investment of 1 billion euros.
What will be the first phase of the project?
MAD01 will have 60 MW of available power and 40 MW of IT load, with an initial investment of 153 million euros.
How much surface will the campus occupy?
Approximately 32,000 square meters across four developed plots.
Why is it important that it is a Project of Special Interest?
Because it allows for accelerated and streamlined administrative processing through the Community of Madrid’s Regional Investment Accelerator.
Why is Ferrovial entering data centers?
Because the sector combines construction, energy, engineering, and critical infrastructure—areas close to its expertise—and because the demand for cloud and AI is driving new developments.
