Status: Under Construction (Phase 1 Groundbreaking) | Location: Digital Park Fechenheim, Frankfurt
Digital Realty, a global leader in cloud- and carrier-neutral data center solutions, has officially commenced the construction of FRA20, its latest state-of-the-art facility located in the heart of Frankfurt, Germany. As the newest addition to the Digital Park Fechenheim campus, FRA20 is designed to address the surging global demand for high-density, AI-ready infrastructure. Frankfurt remains Europe’s premier interconnection hub, and FRA20 is positioned to further solidify this status by offering a specialized environment for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.
The facility spans over 8,100 square meters and will deliver an initial 16 MW of IT capacity. FRA20 is part of a larger strategic master plan for the Fechenheim district, which aims to host 11 interconnected data centers with a cumulative capacity of 200 MW. A unique aspect of this project is its integration with the historic Eiermann Building, a protected architectural landmark. Digital Realty is demonstrating "Innovation at Scale" by repurposing industrial history into a futuristic digital engine room.
Technical innovation is at the core of FRA20. Recognizing that traditional air cooling is insufficient for next-generation GPUs (like NVIDIA's GB200 series), the facility is engineered to support Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) alongside advanced air-cooling systems. This hybrid approach allows tenants to scale rack densities from standard loads up to 100 kW per rack.
Sustainability is a non-negotiable pillar for the FRA20 project. In alignment with Digital Realty’s global ESG goals, the facility will be matched with 100% renewable energy. Furthermore, the project is designed to contribute to the local community by exploring heat-export initiatives, where waste heat from the servers can be diverted to the city’s district heating network, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the urban area.
Connectivity remains a primary draw for the Frankfurt market. FRA20 will be integrated into PlatformDIGITAL®, providing customers with seamless access to a massive ecosystem of over 280 service providers, including direct on-ramps to major cloud providers and local internet exchanges like DE-CIX. This ensures ultra-low latency and high-speed data transfer for multinational enterprises and hyperscalers alike. By launching FRA20, Digital Realty is not just building a warehouse for servers; it is creating a critical "data meeting place" where the AI economy of 2026 and beyond can flourish.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Digital Realty FRA20: 16MW AI-Ready Hyper-Scale Frankfurt |
| Location | Digital Park Fechenheim, Frankfurt |
| Status | Under Construction (Phase 1 Groundbreaking) |
| Commissioning | Q4 2026 (Phase 1) |
| Total IT Load | 16 MW |
| Total Capacity | 200 MW (Total Campus Potential) |
| Tier Level | Tier III Equivalent (High Availability) |
| Project Type | Hyperscale / AI-Optimized Colocation |
| Header | Details |
|---|---|
| City Name | Frankfurt |
| Population | 7,80,000 |
| Urban Agglomeration | 5.8 million |
| City GDP | €160.8 billion |
| Per Capita Income | $101,000 USD |
| City Tier | Tier 1 |
| Key Strengths | Hosting DE-CIX, the worlds largest Internet Exchange Point; financial capital of the Eurozone; strict sustainability mandates driving innovation. |
| Header | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer / Operator | Digital Realty |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | PlatformDIGITAL® Ecosystem |
| Construction Contractor | Mercury Engineering (Lead) |
| MEP Engineering | Arup / Deerns |
| Network Connectivity | Details |
| Power Infrastructure | Dual 110kV Substation Feed (Campus Level) |
| Header | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Capacity | 16 MW (IT Load) |
| UPS Redundancy | N+1 / 2N Configuration |
| Cooling System | Hybrid Air & Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) |
| Connectivity | Direct access to ServiceFabric™ and DE-CIX Internet Exchange |
| PUE Target | < 1.25 |
| Energy Mix | 100% Carbon-Free Renewable Energy |
| Header | Details |
|---|---|
| Announcement | November 2025 |
| Construction Start | Q4 2025 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Spring 2027 |
| Full Buildout | Estimated 2028–2029 (Total Campus) |
| Header | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Investment | Estimated $185 Million (Phase 1) |
| Funding | Corporate Debt / Internal Accruals |
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