Grid connection is the bottleneck. We work on it.
Germany has around 3 GW of data centre capacity, and the federal government wants to double it by 2030. In the metros, grid connection is the obstacle: Frankfurt is not granting large new connections until the mid-2030s, Berlin and Hamburg are rationing. GDI develops where the grid has capacity: at transmission nodes and at industrial sites with an existing connection.
- 100 MW
- Secured, redundant starting capacity that operators demand; path to 300 to 500 MW.
- 2028 to 2030
- Energisation the market demands; 2031 already counts as late.
- 1,000 m2
- Land per MW that we assume in site screening.
- 100 to 200 h
- Curtailment per year that operators accept in flexible connection agreements.
What a GDI site includes at handover
Documented 380 kV connection path with a staged plan
First stage 100 to 250 MW, expansion to 500 MW and more.
Contiguous land under contract
Around 1,000 to 1,250 m2 per MW.
Formal zoning resolution or statute for a Sondergebiet Rechenzentrum
Special-use zoning for data centers.
Energy concept
Generation, storage, flexibility offer, backup power.
Heat concept with offtakers or a documented exemption
Operator shortlist and handover package for the data room
Two paths to a site
Greenfield at transmission nodes
Contiguous land at 380 kV substations or lines, secured via options. Grid connection in the TSO maturity-level procedure, building rights via special-use zoning for data centres. Energy and heat concept from direct supply, storage and waste heat use.
Brownfield with existing grid connection
Former industrial plants, mills, smelters and power stations with a large grid connection in place, anywhere in Germany. The existing connection capacity and infrastructure shorten the path to the grid. We review the transferability of the connection, contamination and building rights and run the conversion with owner, municipality and grid operator.
Grid-connection path
The stages to handover
Screening
Screening and preliminary check with the grid operator.
Land
Land options and formal zoning resolution.
Maturity procedure
Application in the Reifegradverfahren (maturity procedure) with connection concept, proof of financing and flexibility offer.
Energy and heat
Energy and heat concept.
Operator selection
Operator selection and data room under NDA.
Handover
Handover.
Screening
Screening and preliminary check with the grid operator.
Land
Land options and formal zoning resolution.
Maturity procedure
Application in the Reifegradverfahren (maturity procedure) with connection concept, proof of financing and flexibility offer.
Energy and heat
Energy and heat concept.
Operator selection
Operator selection and data room under NDA.
Handover
Handover.
How we work with operators
We hand sites to the operator that brings them online fastest. We work with hyperscalers, developers, infrastructure funds and German anchor users, and we can organise several operators at one node. For users who only take turnkey, we bring a build-to-suit partner. You receive documentation after signing a non-disclosure agreement.
Contact
We reply within one working day.