- Portus Data Centres unveils 5.5MW AI-optimised site in Munich as part of a long-term $108m investment.
- The facility targets growing demand for high-density, AI-ready infrastructure in southern Germany.
What happened: Portus opens $108m AI-ready data centre in Munich to meet surging demand for high-density, sustainable infrastructure.
Portus Data Centres has opened a new 5.5MW facility in Munich as part of a wider $108 million campus development project. The site, located in Aschheim-Dornach just outside the Bavarian capital, is tailored to meet rising demand for AI-optimised infrastructure and high-density workloads. According to the company, this is the first of several planned phases aimed at creating one of Germany’s largest edge data centre campuses.
The new building features sustainability-focused designs, including solar-ready infrastructure, advanced cooling systems and on-site rainwater recycling. Portus said it is targeting customers in the hyperscale, AI, telecoms, and enterprise sectors, noting the site’s strategic position close to DE-CIX Munich, one of Germany’s most important internet exchange points. CEO Edward McCarthy said the investment reflects Portus’ commitment to “long-term, sustainable digital infrastructure in Europe.”
Why this is important
This expansion marks a strategic move in a highly competitive German data centre market, especially as the surge in AI workloads puts fresh pressure on infrastructure providers. AI-ready data centres—built to handle dense, high-power compute loads—are becoming critical for everything from machine learning to autonomous systems. With Germany projected to become Europe’s largest data centre market by 2026, Munich’s growing digital economy positions Portus advantageously.
Portus is a relatively new entrant compared to incumbents like NTT Data and Equinix, but its commitment to scalable, green-ready builds could help it differentiate. The company’s edge-focused strategy may also appeal to enterprises seeking lower-latency services near major urban hubs. McCarthy has highlighted Portus’ focus on “locally-led operations with global scale,” which could resonate amid growing regulatory scrutiny of foreign-owned data centre assets in Europe.
Given ongoing concerns about energy consumption and carbon footprint in the data centre industry, Portus’ investment in sustainable systems is a welcome step. However, whether the company can scale at pace and compete for large AI deployments remains to be seen.
