Topping-out ceremony in Schwalbach: New data center strengthens green infrastructure!

Topping-out ceremony in Schwalbach: New data center strengthens green infrastructure!

The topping-out ceremony for maincubes' new FRA03 data center took place in Schwalbach am Taunus, an exciting project that is viewed by parties as part of a strategy to strengthen the digital infrastructure in the Rhine-Main area. The operator, maincubes, is already celebrating its second location here and plans to put this data center into operation in the summer of 2026. With an impressive IT capacity of 16 megawatts, the focus is primarily on a sustainable energy supply. A central component of this strategy is a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Stadtwerke Göttingen, which secures 34 megawatts of solar power and can thus reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Another sustainable concept includes the planned use of waste heat from the data center for the local district heating network. This is supported by a waste heat utilization contract with the SÜWAG Group, which is about to be concluded. “We have demonstrated a good knack for planning here,” said Mayor Alexander Immisch, emphasizing how important such projects are for sustainable urban development. District Administrator Michael Cyriax also highlighted the relevance of data centers for the digital infrastructure and underlined their role in a sustainable system.

Innovations in the area of ​​sustainable data centers

Data centers are very popular in Germany, particularly due to the growing focus on energy efficiency and environmental awareness. According to a report from eco, operators have made great strides in cooling, with liquid cooling becoming increasingly important. Waste heat utilization has established itself as a key concept because data centers continuously produce waste heat that can be ideally used in urban areas. Projects in cities like Berlin provide examples of how waste heat is used for heating in residential and commercial areas, further reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

The use of waste heat creates economic and ecological advantages, as short transport routes to consumers are necessary in order to use these resources efficiently. Innovative approaches, such as the use of heat pumps to increase the waste heat temperature, show that data centers can also function as sustainable energy sources for climate-neutral cities.

The path to a sustainable future

Collaboration between municipalities and data center operators is essential to turn these forward-looking concepts into reality. The Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) is currently being discussed, which obliges operators of large data centers to release unavoidable waste heat to third parties. These legal frameworks promote the use of local waste heat potential and help to make the digital transformation sustainable.

With the construction of the new data center in Schwalbach am Taunus, an important step is being taken towards a future-proof digital infrastructure. It's hard to believe that we will soon not only benefit from innovative IT services, but will also be able to actively contribute to reducing our ecological footprint. The establishment of maincubes is more than just a gain for the local economy; it is a sign of committed and responsible urban development in the Rhine-Main area.

Find out more about this exciting project on Development city, about the latest developments in the industry eco and the use of waste heat SBZ online.