Murcia aims to gain more significance in the new Spanish geography of data centers. Grupo Fotones is preparing the Casiopeia project, a facility planned near the Espinardo Campus with an initial investment of €1,150 million and a total capacity of up to 140 MW, spread over two phases.
The initiative, reported by Murcia Plaza, places the Region of Murcia on the path to entering a market that has thus far been highly concentrated in hubs like Madrid and Barcelona. The scale of the project is notable: SpainDC estimates that the region currently has around 1 MW of installed capacity in data centers, while Casiopeia proposes 78 MW in the first phase plus an additional 62 MW in the second.
Electricity and fiber, the two key factors behind Espinardo
The choice of Espinardo is not solely based on land availability. According to Santiago Madrigal, CEO of Grupo Fotones, the company analyzed the electrical infrastructure and found that the area has sufficient power capacity—one of the biggest hurdles in developing large-scale data centers.
Access to energy has become a decisive factor for many projects. The demand for AI, cloud services, storage, and digital services is putting pressure on both operators and electrical grids. In this context, having a connection point and fiber optic access can determine whether a project is feasible or remains blocked for years.
| Casiopeia Project Data | Estimated Figures |
|---|---|
| Initial investment disclosed to INFO | €1,150 million |
| Potential cost per MW (range) | Up to €1,680 million |
| First phase capacity | 78 MW |
| Second phase capacity | 62 MW |
| Total planned capacity | 140 MW |
| Current estimated capacity in Murcia | 1 MW, according to SpainDC |
| Expected start of construction | End of 2027 |
| Estimated completion | End of 2028 |
Iberdrola has already granted electrical access for the first phase, while the second phase is still under processing and could receive approval between late 2026 and early 2027. The process is significant financially: Fotones has provided over €5 million as a guarantee to Red Eléctrica and plans to allocate another €15 million for building a substation.
This electrical aspect explains why similar projects cannot be installed just anywhere. A 140 MW data center is not an ordinary tech building. It requires network access, redundancy, cooling systems, connectivity, permits, suitable land, and an energy plan compatible with its operations.
Two potential locations and investor search
Grupo Fotones is working with two possible sites. The first is within the Myrtea shopping center, with over 20,000 square meters available and an option that could facilitate an earlier start. Acquiring this space would involve an investment of approximately €20 million.
The second is a nearby plot of 70,000 square meters, owned by the Yeclan company Inurban, at a price of €7.4 million. This option provides more space but would take longer to develop, as it involves undeveloped land.
| Possible Location | Size | Estimated Cost | Main Advantage | Limitation |
| Myrtea Shopping Center | Over 20,000 m² | €20 million | Allows for an earlier start | Less space |
| Inurban nearby plot | 70,000 m² | €7.4 million | More room to grow | Requires development and construction from scratch |
The company does not necessarily plan to operate the data center alone. Its intention is to sell the project to a specialized operator for management, although Fotones affirms it has the capacity to carry it out if a sale does not occur immediately. It also considers maintaining a stake if the final structure permits.
To explore the market, the group has hired Deloitte to identify interested investors. The project’s attractiveness is based on three factors: the granted power for the first phase, available fiber, and a location that can serve southeastern Spain amid high demand for digital capacity.
Murcia, a secondary market but with potential opportunity
Today, Murcia does not compete on equal terms with Madrid or Barcelona as a data center market. Madrid hosts much of the national capacity, owing to its connectivity, operator presence, corporate demand, and proximity to major network nodes. Barcelona, with its Mediterranean position and digital ecosystem, also has more traction.
However, pressure on major hubs is opening space for secondary locations. Growth in cloud computing, AI, low latency requirements, and data sovereignty or proximity needs are favoring projects outside traditional centers—provided they meet two basic conditions: energy and connectivity.
Casiopeia fits this logic. If executed as planned, Murcia would transition from having a very limited presence to hosting a significant-scale facility. The leap would be notable not only in terms of power but also in attracting operators, network providers, integrators, cloud services, and related activity.
The comparison with SpainDC’s report is also meaningful. Since Grupo Fotones is not part of the association, the project has not been included in sector forecasts through 2030. If it progresses, it could increase capacity expectations for the region.
A project conditioned by permits, demand, and operator
The roadmap still involves several steps. Fotones must obtain permits, confirm the electrical phase two, decide on the final location, select an investor or operator partner, and finalize the design. Construction is planned to start at the end of 2027, with an estimated completion by the end of 2028.
Costs could also vary. Although the figure communicated to the Murcia Regional Development Institute’s investment accelerator is €1,150 million, the per-MW estimate—between €10 million and €12 million—could raise the total up to €1,680 million if the full 140 MW are developed.
In this type of infrastructure, final costs depend on many factors: cooling type, redundancy level, electricity prices, room design, rack density, network equipment, civil works, security, certifications, and the needs of the final operator.
AI-driven demand increases, but raises the bar too
Data center demand is growing driven by advances in AI, cloud services, digital offerings, and enterprise digitalization. Yet, this same demand is raising technical standards. Operators look for locations with guaranteed energy, good connectivity, reasonable permitting times, and growth capacity.
Murcia may find an opportunity here if Casiopeia can clear permits and attract an experienced operator. A 140 MW project requires not only investment but also clients, network agreements, energy planning, and a highly specialized operation.
For the region, the potential lies in generating technological activity beyond land and electricity consumption. A facility of this scale can attract providers, specialized employment, maintenance services, telecom operators, and related projects. However, it will also necessitate monitoring energy impact, resource use, and integration with urban and industrial planning.
Casiopeia positions Murcia in a conversation that was previously limited. The final decision will depend on permits, investors, and technical viability, but the message is clear: the demand for digital infrastructure is beginning to look beyond traditional hubs. Where there is energy, fiber, and land, data centers will find new opportunities.
FAQs
What is the Casiopeia project?
Casiopeia is a data center project led by Grupo Fotones near the Espinardo Campus in Murcia, with an initial planned investment of €1,150 million.
How much capacity will the data center have?
The project is planned in two phases: the first with 78 MW and the second with 62 MW, totaling up to 140 MW.
When could construction begin?
Based on published information, construction is expected to start at the end of 2027, with completion by the end of 2028, contingent on permits, funding, and operator decisions.
Why was Espinardo chosen?
Grupo Fotones emphasizes factors such as power availability and fiber optic connectivity in the area—two essential elements for developing a large-scale data center.
