Green, a Swiss digital infrastructure company, has purchased a 250,000 square meter former ABB industrial property in Birr, Switzerland, and plans to develop the area into a data center campus in phases. ABB had retained the Grossacher and Grändel site as a strategic reserve but no longer requires it.
According to a company press release, Green plans to develop the property in accordance with the existing supplementary development plan. The project will include data center facilities, additional space for industrial and commercial activities with publicly accessible green spaces. Green would work with the municipality of Birr and the canton of Aargau to identify suitable uses for the site.
“Green recognized early on the importance of data centers for the country’s digital development and has played a lasting role in shaping the industry. With the campus in Birr, we are continuing this pioneering work,” said Roger Süess, CEO, Green. “We are pleased to carry out this project in a region with which Green has been closely connected for many years. Together with the municipality and the canton, we want to develop the site for the future and create added value for the region.”
The planned data centers will use closed loop cooling systems that circulate water without consuming it. Green also plans to make waste heat from the facilities available for industrial processes and district heating networks. The campus could also provide tertiary balancing power to help stabilize the Swiss electricity grid.
The acquisition will allow Green to expand its data center capacity amid growing demand for local digital infrastructure, support Switzerland’s digital sovereignty and reduce its reliance on infrastructure outside the country.