Artificial intelligence: Microsoft wants to build another AI data center in North Rhine-Westphalia

The investment amount was not disclosed; it could be a high three-digit million euro amount or perhaps even around a billion euros. Microsoft is investing 3.2 billion euros for the three other data center projects in the lignite region west of Cologne, which will be launched in 2024.

However, money from this amount will still be used to expand the capacity of an existing Microsoft location in Frankfurt and for training programs to improve the public’s handling of artificial intelligence. Building permits have already been issued for the locations in Bedburg and Bergheim, and permission is still awaited in Elsdorf. If everything goes according to plan with the Grevenbroich project, the data center could go into operation in the early 2030s.

Thousands of jobs could be created

In the digital age, external servers are becoming increasingly important and the volume of data is increasing rapidly. Artificial intelligence applications are further increasing the demand for extremely fast data processing. Microsoft is eyeing industrial groups from North Rhine-Westphalia as potential customers. The US company bases its decision on the fourth location on high demand.

“North Rhine-Westphalia is a strategically important cloud and AI region for Microsoft,” says Microsoft Germany boss Agnes Heftberger. With regard to Grevenbroich, she said: “This expansion means additional investments in the local infrastructure and in the people who live and work there.”

At two of the three locations known so far, it is expected that several hundred jobs will be created for the company and around 2,500 jobs from other companies located around the data centers. There could be a similar job booster in the city of Grevenbroich, which has a population of 69,000.

The investment sends an important signal for the entire Rhenish district, said Grevenbroich Mayor Klaus Krützen (SPD). Structural change requires concrete projects, investments and future prospects. “A data center of this size underlines that Grevenbroich is ready to help shape the digital transformation as a modern, future-oriented and reliable location.” The Social Democrat hopes for more: “Such investments can have an impact far beyond the location and draw the attention of new companies to our city.”