Apto Announces €2bn Investment to Build the Largest Data Centre Campus in Madrid Cloud Region
Apto, a provider of world-class hyperscale data centres across Europe, has confirmed a landmark 195,000m2 site in Fuenlabrada as the location of its new Madrid campus. With a total capital investment estimated at up to €2bn, the project represents a significant milestone in Apto’s European growth strategy, establishing itself in one of Europe’s most attractive data centre hubs. Just 14km from the city centre, the site – formerly home to an industrial bottling plant – has been fully cleared and is now poised to become the largest data centre campus in the Madrid cloud region.
With an approved building permit for the first phase of the campus, construction is set to begin immediately. Apto has already completed site enabling works, including an onsite 40MW substation, with total campus capacity projected to reach up to 240MW across 5 data centres. Apto is now commencing the second phase, totalling 122 MW, with a focus on ensuring that 50% of the total power across the two phases is 100% green energy. This investment positions Apto at the heart of a vibrant cloud region, offering hyperscale-ready infrastructure in one of Europe’s most dynamic and fastest growing digital markets.
The region benefits from strong subsea cable connectivity that underpins global digital traffic and is also rich in renewable energy resources, particularly solar, ranking second in Europe for installed renewable capacity and offering competitive energy costs.
Partnering with Arnaiz, a leading urban planning and real estate development firm with 50 years of experience in Spain, Apto is combining its European hyperscale knowledge with local expertise and relationships.
Sustainable and Community-Driven Development
This brownfield regeneration project continues to receive excellent support from the Comunidad de Madrid, Invest in Madrid and the Fuenlabrada municipality, thanks to the broader benefits it will bring to the region, including direct and indirect employment, new green spaces, improved infrastructure and local economic opportunities. Plans include extensive landscaping with thousands of new trees and shrubs, as well as community amenities such as walking paths and recreation areas. The design also incorporates sustainable construction practices, renewable energy generation and mobility solutions that encourage greener transport.
By working closely with community stakeholders, Apto aims to ensure the campus provides long-term value not only for customers, but also for the people and environment of Fuenlabrada. According to industry association Spain DC, every euro invested in data centres generates more than seven euros in local economic return, underlining the sector’s role as a driver of economic development.
This operation benefits from support from the European Union under the InvestEU Partnership.
Rocío Albert, Councillor for Economy, Taxation and Employment of the Comunidad de Madrid, said: “It’s a fundamental project in Fuenlabrada, in an area that was a completely disused industrial zone, which is going to be turned into a data centre that will provide support for cloud services as well as artificial intelligence, which are so necessary to attract high economic value companies to the Community of Madrid.”
Russell Poole, CEO of Apto, commented: “Madrid has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s most dynamic digital hubs, and our investment here reflects both the scale of demand and the strength of the region’s long-term fundamentals. This landmark campus will give hyperscale customers the capacity, resilience and sustainability they need to grow, while delivering lasting benefits for the local economy and community. It is a major step in Apto’s mission to build world-class, sustainable infrastructure across Europe’s leading cloud regions.”
Apto’s Madrid campus represents a bold step forward in building sustainable, scalable digital infrastructure for the future of Europe’s cloud economy.
