Google does not plan to construct a self-owned data center in Berlin-Brandenburg. - Google isn't establishing a data center in Berlin-Brandenburg, contrary to speculation.
In a recent development, tech giant Google has decided not to construct a new data center in the Greater Berlin area of Brandenburg. The decision, confirmed by press spokesman Ralf Bremer, was made after a thorough examination of feasibility, general market development, and business priorities.
Google's existing presence in the region is noteworthy, with data centers already operational in Berlin-Brandenburg and Frankfurt, and a data center in Hanau, which was opened in 2023. The company has also been a tenant in several data centers of other operators in the capital region.
The Greater Frankfurt area, with its strategic location and infrastructure, is attractive for data center construction. However, the region faces a severe energy grid capacity crisis. No new power capacity allocations are expected until 2030 due to grid constraints and soaring energy costs, which is forcing tech companies to reconsider their expansion plans and relocate or delay investments.
The large internet exchange point DE-CIX, located nearby, has contributed to the boom in the area. Through DE-CIX, operators can transfer large amounts of data without delay. As a gigantic data exchange hub for operators of data centers, DE-CIX is a significant asset to the region.
While Google is not building a data center in Berlin-Brandenburg, it remains committed to the region and Germany as a whole. The company is likely to focus on other locations more suitable for data center construction with better energy grid support. Meanwhile, other players like Virtus Data Centres are investing heavily in new data centers in Berlin-Brandenburg, indicating some activity in the region but likely under different terms and capacities than Google’s requirements.
This decision reflects broader trends in Germany’s data center market, where energy efficiency, renewable power use, and grid availability are becoming decisive factors for major cloud providers' site selections. As the demand for cloud services continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how the market evolves in the coming years.
In the face of an energy grid capacity crisis, Google might redirect its focus towards other regions with optimal energy grid support, investing instead in community aid, vocational training programs, and technology advancements like data-and-cloud-computing. Being committed to Germany as a whole, the tech giant could seek opportune locations to deploy vocational training initiatives, helping local communities develop skills in tech-related areas, such as data center operations.
