On October 21, 2026, IREN announced at NVIDIA GTC Berlin that it had secured the civil works license for its approximately 300 MW AI data center campus in Badajoz, Extremadura. The Nostrum Evergreen project sits on the Plataforma Logística site and forms part of the company’s push into European sovereign AI infrastructure.
Details of the IREN Data Center Spain Development
Grid-connected power is already in place for the site. The campus incorporates closed-loop liquid cooling that minimizes water consumption and is engineered for compatibility with the NVIDIA DSX AI Factory Platform. Initial operations remain targeted for 2028, when IREN intends to offer managed AI cloud services that emphasize European data residency and operational control.
The company entered the Spanish market through its June 2026 acquisition of Nostrum Group, which brought roughly 490 MW of secured grid-connected power and a local team of more than 50 staff. Gabriel Nebreda serves as CEO of IREN Spain. An IREN Europe holding company has been established with Ángel Corcóstegui as board chair and Roberto Purcaro as Executive Director for Europe.
Estimated investment for the project stands at approximately €1.9 billion. Earlier steps included September 2026 administrative authorization for electrical infrastructure, including a substation and dedicated lines. The site covers more than 30 hectares and carries noted potential for later expansion toward 500 MW.
Construction Timeline and Regulatory Context
Site preparation work, including leveling and foundations, is expected to begin between late 2026 and early 2027. The full construction license remains pending while IREN continues consultations with authorities. No customer contracts or final construction budget have been disclosed in the latest announcements.
The Badajoz project adds to IREN’s global portfolio of more than 5 GW of grid-connected power capacity. Shares of the company rose modestly following the October 21 announcement. The campus is promoted under the Data Riocaya initiative and forms one element of broader regional efforts to attract large-scale digital infrastructure.
Implications for European Sovereign AI Capacity
By locating a 300 MW facility in Spain, IREN positions itself to supply AI compute with explicit focus on data residency requirements. The use of closed-loop cooling addresses local water-resource concerns while supporting high-density GPU deployments. European financial institutions and enterprises seeking alternatives to non-EU cloud providers may find the combination of local power, cooling design and governance structure relevant to their procurement plans.
Further permitting milestones and phased capacity rollout will determine when the site reaches full scale. IREN continues to advance similar projects across its portfolio while monitoring regulatory developments in Spain and the wider European Union.
Frequently asked questions
When will the IREN data center Spain campus begin operations?
Initial operations are targeted for 2028. Site preparation is scheduled to start between late 2026 and early 2027, subject to receipt of the remaining construction permits.
What cooling technology will the 300 MW AI campus use?
The facility will employ closed-loop liquid cooling designed to minimize water consumption while supporting high-density GPU workloads compatible with the NVIDIA DSX platform.
How does the project support European sovereign AI goals?
IREN plans to deliver managed AI cloud services from the Badajoz site with emphasis on European data residency and local operational control for enterprise and institutional users.
What prior steps enabled the civil works license?
The June 2026 acquisition of Nostrum Group provided secured grid power and local expertise. September 2026 administrative authorization covered electrical infrastructure including a dedicated substation.
By YasTech Editorial
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