Germany's New €250M Data Center Turns Waste Heat Into a Town's Lifeline
A new state-of-the-art data center is set to open in Rosbach vor der Höhe by the end of 2027. The project, led by Firstcolo Group and Oberhessische Versorgungsbetriebe AG (OVAG), represents a €250 million investment in cutting-edge digital infrastructure. The facility will also supply waste heat to the town for up to 20 years, supporting local heating networks at no cost.
The data center will cover over 11,500 square meters and deliver up to 24 megawatts of IT power. It will offer flexible leasing options, from individual racks to entire IT zones, catering to both national and international businesses. High-performance servers and AI applications will benefit from advanced cooling technologies, ensuring efficiency and reliability.
The facility will operate as a carrier-neutral hub, featuring multiple redundant fibre-optic links for maximum uptime. OVAG is contributing a 20% stake in the project, bringing expertise in supply security and sustainable energy. Beyond digital infrastructure, the center will strengthen the region's resilience by integrating sustainable energy solutions and boosting local economic value.
For the next two decades, waste heat from the data center will be redirected to Rosbach's heating systems. This approach follows similar initiatives in cities like Stockholm, Helsinki, and Paris, where data center heat has been repurposed for urban heating networks.
The project is scheduled for completion by late 2027, marking a significant step in sustainable digital infrastructure. The data center will provide high-capacity IT services while reducing energy waste through local heat reuse. Its long-term partnership with Rosbach ensures both economic and environmental benefits for the region.
