en.Wedoany.com Reported - Microsoft is adding billions of euros in investment to its AI data center in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, and plans to construct a fourth facility in Grevenbroich, located in the Rhenish mining region (Rheinisches Revier). The company has signed a purchase agreement for this purpose, which is still subject to building permit approval. The Rhenish mining region, a coal-producing area west of Cologne, is undergoing structural transformation following the coal phase-out.
The investment amount has not been disclosed, but estimates suggest it could be in the hundreds of millions of euros, or even around one billion euros. Microsoft has already invested 3.2 billion euros in three other data center projects in the region, launched in 2024. Part of the funds will also be used to expand capacity at existing sites in Frankfurt and to launch training programs to enhance public AI skills.
Sites in Bedburg and Bergheim have already received building permits, while the permit for Elsdorf is still pending. If the Grevenbroich project proceeds as planned, the data center could become operational in the early 2030s. Microsoft stated that industrial groups in NRW are potential customers, and strong market demand is the reason for choosing the fourth site.
Agnes Heftberger, CEO of Microsoft Germany, stated that NRW holds a significant position in Microsoft's cloud and AI strategy, and this expansion represents an additional investment in local infrastructure and residents.
At the two announced sites, each is expected to create hundreds of operational jobs, along with approximately 2,500 positions from other companies in the surrounding area. Similar job growth is anticipated in the city of Grevenbroich, which has a population of 69,000.
Klaus Krützen (SPD), Mayor of Grevenbroich, believes this investment sends an important signal for the structural transformation of the Rhenish mining region. The data center project highlights that the city is ready to serve as a modern digital transformation hub. The mayor expects the investment to attract more new businesses to the city.
