US data center firm Prime is continuing its Europe expansion with a new development in Denmark. The company announced plans for a campus in Esbjerg in partnership with Brunswick Real Estate.
The company is aiming to develop a 640,000 sqm campus – known as ESB01 – on land along Nordre Tovrupvej. The land is owned by the Esbjerg Municipality.
“We are proud to announce our plans for the Esbjerg Data Center and to begin the EIA process,” said Nicholas Laag, founder and CEO of Prime Data Centers. “This project represents Prime’s commitment to Denmark and the broader Nordic region as we work to meet rapidly growing demand for digital infrastructure that powers hyperscale cloud, AI, and HPC workloads.”
The project has entered the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) phase, with Prime applying for 550MW of IT capacity. Construction of the first facility is expected to begin in 2027, with initial capacity coming online in late 2029. The first phase would offer 160MW of IT capacity, with Prime investing some €2 billion. A total of €6 billion could be invested to reach the full 550MW. Prime has committed to exploring opportunities for waste heat recovery.
“Esbjerg’s unique combination of abundant renewable energy, world-class submarine cable connectivity to continental Europe, and strong municipal support makes it one of the most compelling data center locations in Europe. We look forward to working closely with the Municipality of Esbjerg and the local community throughout this process”, said Laag.
Prime’s portfolio is primarily focused in California, with additional campuses under development in Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix. Its investors include Macquarie Capital, Ares Management, Siemens Financial Services, Snowhawk, and Nuveen.
The company first outlined its European expansion in 2023 with plans for a three-building, 124MW campus in Sæby, northern Denmark. Esbjerg is popular: Bulk operates a data center there, Meta has acquired land, Danish real estate firm Thylander is targeting a 100MW project and Microsoft is developing in the area as well.
“The Municipality of Esbjerg welcomes the Prime Data Centers project and appreciates the company’s decision to invest in our area,” said Jesper Frost Rasmussen, Mayor of the Municipality of Esbjerg. “This project underlines Esbjerg’s growing position as a hub for digital infrastructure in Northern Europe and has the potential to contribute to local jobs and economic activity.”
Pictured: prime's Saeby data center
