EDP to Supply Solar Power for Portugal's First Carbon-Neutral Data Center Campus

EDP and MERLIN Edged, a division of MERLIN Properties, have signed an agreement to supply clean energy to a data center campus under development in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, located 20 km from Lisbon. This campus aims to be Portugal's first carbon-neutral data center facility.

As part of the project, EDP will construct its largest single-site decentralized solar plant to date at the location, with a planned capacity of up to 100 megawatts peak (100 MWp). The data center's primary power will come from this solar installation, supplemented by other solutions to ensure a 24/7 renewable energy supply.

The initiative is seen as a response to the growing demand for renewable energy within technology infrastructure. The company suggest the Iberian Peninsula has the potential to become a significant digital and technology center in Europe, leveraging its resources and conditions.

MERLIN Edged states that its data centers utilize technologies for their cooling systems resulting in net zero water consumption. These systems also reportedly consume 67% less energy compared to the European average. The project partners note that the rapid development of artificial intelligence is driving significant global demand for new data centers.