The Ministry of Environment and Energy approved an environmental permit for a new data center in Kryoneri yesterday, paving the way for the project’s construction.
Attica is at the center of attention for data center investors, with new projects planned in Spata and Koropi by major industry players such as Microsoft and the French company Data4.
The new investment is a project by TECTUM ANAPTYXIAKI MONOPROSOPI S.A. on a 32,800.71 m² plot, with a capacity of 20 MW—a size considered medium to large for the market.
The application for inclusion in the Standard Environmental Commitments for the project has been completed and published in the Ministry of Environment and Energy’s Electronic Environmental Registry.
The investment was designed with a view to future use of Artificial Intelligence (AI-Ready Infrastructure), while all electrical and mechanical installations, and in particular the cooling system, have been designed with maximum flexibility and future adaptability (future-proofing) to Artificial Intelligence computing loads in mind.
Investments of €10 billion
According to market estimates, the construction of new 1GW data centers could “unlock” multiple benefits and investments totaling approximately 10 billion euros for Greece.
As a recent PwC study shows, the creation of new data centers could generate 1,000 new jobs. At the same time, a combination of digital investments in data centers, undersea fiber-optic cables, and supercomputers could help transform our country into a digital infrastructure hub.
The Challenges
However, the concentration of investments in Attica, which absorbs approximately 65% of new investments, also creates challenges, as the region’s power grid is nearing its limits.
The challenge is not limited to the implementation of these investments but extends primarily to the energy demands they entail. Data centers are among the most energy-intensive infrastructures in the economy, as they require a continuous and highly reliable supply of electricity to operate and cool their systems.