First phase of 160MW IT represents an investment of approximately €2 billion, with plans to expand to 550MW IT and a total campus investment of €6 billion
Prime Data Centers, a leading international developer and operator of hyperscale and purpose-built data centers, in partnership with its local partner Brunswick Real Estate, today announced plans to develop a large-scale, AI-ready data center campus in Esbjerg, Denmark.
The project is now entering the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, for which Prime Data Centers is applying for an assessed capacity of 550MW IT. The proposed campus — designated ESB01 — will be situated on a 640,000 sqm site at Nordre Tovrupvej, Esbjerg, and is being developed in close collaboration with the Municipality of Esbjerg, which is the seller of the land.
“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. 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.”
The first phase of development will deliver a campus totaling 160MW of IT capacity, representing a total investment of approximately €2 billion. Subject to demand and permitting, Prime intends to develop the campus in a second phase up to a total assessed capacity of 550MW IT, with a full build-out investment expected to reach approximately €6 billion, establishing Esbjerg as one of Northern Europe’s foremost hyperscale data center destinations.
The project is expected to generate significant and lasting local economic impact. The first phase alone is estimated to create approximately 150–200 permanent, highly skilled jobs, growing further as the campus expands. During construction, the project is expected to sustain approximately 1,000 construction jobs over a period of five to six years. At full campus build-out, the combined direct, indirect and construction-phase employment impact will make this one of the most significant technology investments in Denmark.
Denmark’s west coast is one of Europe’s leading renewable energy corridors, benefiting from significant and growing offshore wind investment. The Esbjerg campus will be powered via Denmark’s national electricity grid, with access to a high proportion of renewable energy. Prime Data Centers is committed to exploring opportunities for waste heat recovery as part of the project’s long-term sustainability ambitions and will engage with local stakeholders on potential integration with district heating infrastructure as the project matures.
The site benefits from outstanding connectivity to international markets, located in close proximity to six major submarine cable systems providing direct, resilient routes between Esbjerg and key markets across continental Europe and beyond, positioning the campus as a critical node in Northern European digital infrastructure.
“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. We look forward to continuing the constructive dialogue and to supporting a thorough and transparent environmental assessment process.”
Subject to successful completion of the EIA process and obtaining all necessary permits and grid connection agreements, construction of the first data center is anticipated to commence in 2027, with the initial capacity targeting go-live in late 2029.
