By advancing the grid infrastructure required for the planned data center campus near Hamm, Amprion is laying the foundation for a significant digital infrastructure investment and strengthening North Rhine-Westphalia as a business
location.
Amprion and QTS, a global data center leader, have signed a construction agreement for the infrastructure required to connect a planned data center campus in the Westfalen industrial park.The site near Hamm and Lippetal will be connected to the transmission
grid via the Uentrop substation.
“High-performance transmission grids are a key prerequisite for our country’s digital transformation,” says Dr. Christoph Müller, CEO of Amprion GmbH. “Investments in data centers, industry and other emerging technologies cannot be realized without a strong
and reliable electricity grid.”
The signing of the agreement marks an important milestone for the project. The planned campus will be developed and operated by QTS, a Blackstone portfolio company, on an area of approximately 27 hectares within the Westfalen industrial park. Subject to the necessary approvals and project requirements, the development would represent a multi-billion euro digital infrastructure investment in North Rhine-Westphalia.
As part of the project, QTS and Blackstone will fund the substation infrastructure and grid upgrades required to connect the proposed campus to the transmission grid.
“This agreement is an important milestone for the proposed Lippetal campus. QTS is committed to funding the infrastructure upgrades required for our projects and to working closely with Amprion and local partners as plans progress,” says Florian Hoyndorf, Senior Director of International Pre Development at QTS.
The Key Role of Transmission Grids
Data centers are the backbone of today’s digital economy and support many of the services people use every day. They enable cloud computing, online banking, video streaming, and digital public services, while also helping hospitals, researchers, and businesses process large amounts of data to drive medical advances, scientific research, and new technologies. At the same time, they require a secure and high-capacity electricity supply.
This is where transmission grids play a crucial role. They transport electricity over long distances, integrate renewable energy into the energy system, and provide the foundation for reliably supplying large consumers such as data centers.
The Hamm region offers favourable conditions for the development of energy-intensive future technologies and industries. Among other projects, Amprion is planning to build a converter station in the area as the southern endpoint of the Corridor B underground cable project. This high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link will transport wind-generated electricity from the Wilhelmshaven region to Westphalia. The converter station in Hamm will convert the direct current into alternating current and feed it into the regional grid via the Lippborg substation, making the renewable electricity available to the region and, in the future, to the planned data center campus.
“As a transmission system operator, our role is to provide robust infrastructure,” says Dr. Müller. “Projects like this enable investment in the digital economy and create the conditions for future growth.”
