TO OPEN FRANKFURT DATA CENTER IN 2022

Google has just announced it plans to expand its operations in Germany with €1 billion ($1.18 billion) worth of investments in new data centers, a new Google Cloud region in Berlin-Brandenburg, as well as in renewable energy between now (2021) and 2030.

The new cloud region in Berlin-Brandenburg is planned to have three zones joining the existing network of 27 Google Cloud regions connected by high-performance network. When open, it’s claimed to be the second Google Cloud region in Germany, providing enterprise customers with faster access to secure infrastructure, smart analytics tools and an open platform.

Google also announced the selection of ENGIE Deutschland as its carbon-free energy supplier in Germany. Under the terms of the agreement, ENGIE is to assemble and develop, on Google’s behalf, a 140 megawatt (MW) carbon-free energy portfolio in Germany with the ability to flex and grow as their needs change.

The energy portfolio is planned to include – a new 39MW solar Photovoltaic system, and 22 wind parks in five federal to ensure that the energy delivered to Google’s German facilities will be nearly 80% carbon-free by 2022 when measured on an hourly basis.

“ENGIE is excited to collaborate with Google based on a first-of-a-kind agreement which will support the company with its sustainability goals and ambitious carbon-free energy target. Thanks to our expertise in energy and risk management, we can seamlessly integrate renewable energy from existing plants and develop new assets to design a tailor made product that meets Google’s needs and plans to go even greener,” said Ralf Bernhard, Senior Originator Renewables, ENGIE.

In addition, Google announced that their new cloud region In Hanau – 20 kilometers from the DE-CIX Internet hub in Frankfurt, is near completion and expected to be fully operational in 2022. The expansion of the existing Frankfurt Google Cloud region is planned to serve the growing demand for Google Cloud services in Germany.