MERLIN Edged LIS2 Lisbon Data Center Campus: 180MW Waterless AI Hub
Status: Under Construction / Active Phase 1 Buildout | Location: Plataforma Logística Lisboa Norte, Freguesia de Castanheira do Ribatejo, Vila Franca de Xira, 111405, Portugal
Project Overview
MERLIN Edged’s LIS2 Lisbon Data Center Campus is a next-generation 180MW AI-ready digital infrastructure hub designed to support the rapidly growing demand for high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cloud services, and hyperscale workloads in Portugal and Southern Europe. Located in the Lisbon region, LIS2 is being developed as a large-scale, carrier-neutral facility focused on delivering sustainable and efficient data center capacity for global technology companies, cloud providers, and enterprise customers. The campus is designed around a waterless cooling approach, eliminating traditional water consumption associated with data center cooling while improving environmental sustainability and operational efficiency. Built to accommodate advanced AI workloads, LIS2 is expected to support high-density GPU deployments, accelerated computing environments, and future-generation digital applications requiring significant power and cooling capabilities. The facility will integrate modern energy management systems, resilient power infrastructure, and scalable design principles to meet the requirements of hyperscale operators. With its strategic location, strong connectivity ecosystem, access to renewable energy resources, and commitment to sustainable infrastructure, MERLIN Edged LIS2 represents a major step in Europe’s transition toward greener AI data centers. The campus strengthens Lisbon’s position as an emerging digital hub, providing reliable, scalable, and environmentally responsible infrastructure for the next wave of AI-driven innovation.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
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| Project Name | MERLIN Edged LIS2 Lisbon Data Center Campus: 180MW Waterless AI Hub |
| Location | Plataforma Logística Lisboa Norte, Freguesia de Castanheira do Ribatejo, Vila Franca de Xira, 111405, Portugal |
| Status | Under Construction / Active Phase 1 Buildout |
| Commissioning | Groundbreaking: October 2024 / Phase 1 Go-Live Target: 2027 |
| Total IT Load | 180 MW Critical IT Load (Scalable up to 300 MW long-term capacity) |
| Total Capacity | 180 MW – 300 MW Utility Power Allocation across a 5-building campus plus 2 office & administrative buildings |
| Tier Level | Tier III / Concurrently Maintainable Equivalent Architecture (ISO 27001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, SOC 2 Certified Platform) |
| Project Type | Purpose-Built Greenfield Hyperscale, Waterless AI/HPC & Subsea Interconnection Campus |
City Profile
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| City Name | Vila Franca de Xira |
| Population | ~137,500 (Municipality population) |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~2.9 million (Lisbon Metropolitan Area) |
| City GDP | Part of Lisbon Metropolitan economy (approx. €70+ billion) |
| Per Capita Income | ~€35,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 2 – Industrial, Logistics & Emerging Digital Hub |
| Key Strengths | Strategic location northeast of Lisbon; strong logistics and industrial base; proximity to Lisbon Airport; excellent road and rail connectivity; access to the Tagus River; growing commercial development; connection to Lisbon's technology and business ecosystem; suitable location for industrial parks and digital infrastructure expansion. |
Companies Involved
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| Developer / Operator | MERLIN Properties |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | EDP (Energias de Portugal - Exclusive Renewable Power Supplier) & Plataforma Logística Lisboa Norte |
| Construction Contractor | Specialized Iberian Mission-Critical EPC & General Contractors |
| MEP Engineering | Edged Energy ThermalWorks & MERLIN Technical Infrastructure Engineering Teams |
| Network Connectivity | Carrier-neutral platform with direct proximity to Lisbon’s 10+ intercontinental subsea cable landings (including 2AFRICA, Nuvem, EllaLink); dual redundant Meet-Me-Rooms (MMRs); underground diverse fiber entry vaults. |
| Power Infrastructure | High-voltage direct grid interconnection, 2N / N+1 static uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, automated switchgear, and eco-friendly gas/biodiesel backup generation arrays. |
Technical Specifications
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| Power Capacity | 180 MW Critical IT Power (Expandable to 300 MW) |
| UPS Redundancy | 2N / Distributed Redundant Static Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Configuration |
| Cooling System | ThermalWorks proprietary closed-loop waterless cooling systems (0 WUE), high-density air-side economization, and direct liquid-to-chip cooling integration capable of supporting dense AI GPU racks. |
| Connectivity | Carrier-neutral access offering direct low-latency connections to regional IXPs, subsea cable landing stations, and Iberian fiber backbones. |
| PUE Target | < 1.15 Annualized Operational Design PUE |
| Energy Mix | 100% Green Renewable Energy supply provided by EDP backed by Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Guarantees of Origin (GoO). |
Milestones
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| Announcement | October 2024 |
| Construction Start | October 2024 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Target 2027 |
| Full Buildout | 2027–2029+ (Phased 5-Facility Expansion) |
Investment Details
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| Total Investment | Estimated €500,000,000 EUR to €800,000,000+ EUR (Phased Campus Capital Expenditure) |
| Funding | Joint Venture Infrastructure Financing by MERLIN Properties & Edged Energy |