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Market profile

Germany

Germany is the largest data centre market in continental Europe, centred on Frankfurt/Rhein-Main. The federal data centre strategy adopted in March 2026 cites Borderstep estimates of about 2,980 MW IT connected load and roughly 21 TWh of consumption in 2025, about 4% of gross electricity use, and aims to at least double capacity by 2030. The Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) sets PUE, renewable electricity and waste heat reuse duties, and an amendment is in parliament.

Overview

More than a third of national capacity sits in Frankfurt/Rhein-Main, with Berlin-Brandenburg and the Rhenish lignite area emerging for hyperscale and AI campuses. Over half of capacity is colocation according to the strategy.

Why it matters for cooling and power

Germany combines the EU's toughest efficiency and heat reuse law with an explicit federal growth target, so design choices on cooling temperature and heat export carry regulatory weight.

Key metros and clusters

  • Frankfurt/Rhein-Main: Rhein-Main area around Frankfurt incl. Offenbach, Hanau and Dietzenbach, as used in the federal strategy.

Grid context

The strategy flags grid connection capacity in Frankfurt/Rhein-Main as a bottleneck and proposes measures on connection procedures and siting near generation.

Water, heat reuse, efficiency and planning

EnEfG Section 11 sets PUE limits, 100% renewable electricity and minimum reused energy shares for new data centres. Google plans district heat supply from Dietzenbach. Microsoft's Rhenish sites use closed-loop cooling without evaporation.

Latest changes

  1. Policy 24 Sept 2026 Germany EnEfG amendment bill 2026 (Gesetz zur Beschleunigung der Umsetzung der Energieeffizienzrichtlinie)Bundestag first reading, referred to Committee for Economic Affairs and Energy Related: Germany EnEfG amendment bill 2026 (Gesetz zur Beschleunigung der Umsetzung der Energieeffizienzrichtlinie). dserver.bundestag.de (opens in a new tab)
  2. Market 21 Sept 2026 EU proposes data centre rating scheme and opens minimum standards consultation to 14 December: On 21 September 2026 the Commission adopted a delegated act for a common sustainability rating of data centres above 500 kW and opened a call for evidence on minimum performance standards, closing 14 December 2026. Related: EU minimum performance standards for data centres (call for evidence and public consultation), EU common rating scheme for data centres (Commission delegated act of 21 September 2026), EU data centre energy-performance reporting (EED Article 12 and Delegated Regulation 2024/1364), Ireland. ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)energy.ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
  3. Policy 10 Jul 2026 Germany EnEfG amendment bill 2026 (Gesetz zur Beschleunigung der Umsetzung der Energieeffizienzrichtlinie)Bundesrat opinion (Drucksache 388/26) Related: Germany EnEfG amendment bill 2026 (Gesetz zur Beschleunigung der Umsetzung der Energieeffizienzrichtlinie). dserver.bundestag.de (opens in a new tab)
  4. Policy 1 Jul 2026 Germany Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) section 11: requirements for data centresNew-build cut-off: sites starting operation from this date fall under new-site PUE 1.2 and 10% reused energy Related: Germany Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) section 11: requirements for data centres. gesetze-im-internet.de (opens in a new tab)
  5. Policy 24 Jun 2026 Germany EnEfG amendment bill 2026 (Gesetz zur Beschleunigung der Umsetzung der Energieeffizienzrichtlinie)Cabinet decision Related: Germany EnEfG amendment bill 2026 (Gesetz zur Beschleunigung der Umsetzung der Energieeffizienzrichtlinie). dserver.bundestag.de (opens in a new tab)
  6. Policy 23 Apr 2026 EU common rating scheme for data centres (Commission delegated act of 21 September 2026)Call for feedback on draft rules closed (opened 26 March 2026) Related: EU common rating scheme for data centres (Commission delegated act of 21 September 2026). energy.ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
  7. Market 18 Mar 2026 Germany adopts federal data centre strategy aiming to double capacity by 2030: The federal cabinet adopted the Rechenzentrumsstrategie in March 2026, targeting at least double data centre capacity and four times HPC/AI capacity by 2030, alongside the pending EnEfG amendment. Related: German Federal Government Data Centre Strategy (Rechenzentrumsstrategie), Germany EnEfG amendment bill 2026 (Gesetz zur Beschleunigung der Umsetzung der Energieeffizienzrichtlinie), Germany Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) section 11: requirements for data centres. bmftr.bund.de (opens in a new tab)bundesregierung.de (opens in a new tab)
  8. Project 12 Mar 2026 Microsoft Rhenish mining area data centre cluster (Bergheim, Bedburg, Elsdorf)Groundbreaking in Bergheim, permits for Bergheim and Bedburg Related: Microsoft, Microsoft Rhenish mining area data centre cluster (Bergheim, Bedburg, Elsdorf). news.microsoft.com (opens in a new tab)
  9. Project 11 Nov 2025 Google Dietzenbach data centre (Hesse)Announced with heat recovery partnership Related: Google, Google Dietzenbach data centre (Hesse). googlecloudpresscorner.com (opens in a new tab)
  10. Policy 15 May 2025 EU data centre energy-performance reporting (EED Article 12 and Delegated Regulation 2024/1364)Second submission, then every 15 May Related: EU data centre energy-performance reporting (EED Article 12 and Delegated Regulation 2024/1364). eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
  11. Policy 15 Sept 2024 EU data centre energy-performance reporting (EED Article 12 and Delegated Regulation 2024/1364)First submission deadline under Delegated Regulation 2024/1364 Article 3 Related: EU data centre energy-performance reporting (EED Article 12 and Delegated Regulation 2024/1364). eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
  12. Policy 1 Jan 2024 Germany Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) section 11: requirements for data centres50% renewable electricity (balance-sheet) requirement applies Related: Germany Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) section 11: requirements for data centres. gesetze-im-internet.de (opens in a new tab)

All changes

Tracked projects

ProjectLevelStageOperator or developerLatest change
Google Dietzenbach data centre (Hesse)buildingAnnouncedGoogle11 Nov 2025: Announced with heat recovery partnership
Microsoft Rhenish mining area data centre cluster (Bergheim, Bedburg, Elsdorf)campusUnder constructionMicrosoft12 Mar 2026: Groundbreaking in Bergheim, permits for Bergheim and Bedburg

Filter all projects by Germany

Capacity in tracked public coverage

Tracked public coverage, not a national total. Sums of reported, project-level figures from 0 of the 2 published project records we track for Germany. Each metric and each delivery class is summed on its own and never added to another. Confirmed operating capacity never includes design or ultimate capacity. Delayed projects are never counted as under construction now. Campus and phase figures are not double counted. Ranges and upper bounds are not summed. Unknown values are not counted as zero.

None of the tracked project records for Germany has a figure that can be summed yet. Figures with an unclear basis and undisclosed values are never added. Each project page lists its reported figures as published. Not disclosed is not zero.

Figures not counted (2) and why

Method: capacity rules. Company-wide investment, area figures and third-party market estimates are never included in these sums.

Cloud regions in Germany

A cloud region is a provider's service area. It is not a data centre campus and has no MW figure here.

Policy timeline

Upcoming dates

Operators and developers

Relevant technologies

Suppliers with evidence in Germany

Listed because a public source shows activity, an office or delivery in Germany. Not an endorsement or proof of any project contract.

Sources (2), last checked 18 Oct 2026
  1. Rechenzentrumsstrategie der Bundesregierung (opens in a new tab), BMFTR, published 18 Mar 2026, accessed 18 Oct 2026
  2. Energieeffizienzgesetz Section 11 (opens in a new tab), gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed 18 Oct 2026

Last checked 18 Oct 2026 by CoolPower Index research (automated, sourced). Report a correction.