According to DCD, the Rostock government just broke ground on a new €6 million municipal data center featuring 90 square meters of white space across two data halls with 300kW capacity. The facility will include solar power and waste heat reuse, with Deutsche Telekom managing operations while the city retains ownership. Construction is scheduled for shell completion in Q1 2026 and full operation by September 2026, with migration of city IT systems starting next year. Meanwhile, nearby Dummerstorf is negotiating with an unnamed German investor about developing a massive 1.2GW data center campus on 30 hectares, potentially making it one of the world’s largest facilities. Elsewhere in Germany, Glasfaser Ruhr is planning another data center near Bochum capable of hosting 235 racks at up to 10kW density each.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
From Quiet Port to Potential Powerhouse
Here’s the thing about Rostock – it’s not exactly what you’d call a data center hotspot. Currently, only euNetworks operates in the area according to DataCenterMap. But that could change dramatically if both these projects materialize. We’re talking about a municipal facility that’s basically future-proofing local government IT, plus a potential gigawatt-scale campus that would put this northern German region on the global data center map.
The municipal project itself is interesting because it’s entirely self-funded from city coffers. At €6 million for 300kW, that’s not exactly cheap power, but for a government that wants “digital sovereignty,” maybe the price is right. And making the waste heat available? That’s becoming table stakes for new European data centers these days, but still good to see.
The Beowulf Mystery
Now the really fascinating part is this Dummerstorf development. A 1.2GW campus? That’s absolutely massive. Local press including Tagesschau and NDR are reporting ongoing negotiations, with NDR suggesting European investment firm Freo Group might be involved. But Freo Group isn’t exactly known for data centers – they’re primarily real estate investors.
Even more intriguing? WebPioneer says talks have been happening under the codename “Beowulf.” I mean, come on – that’s either incredibly cool or trying way too hard. Either way, if this project actually happens, it would completely transform the economic landscape of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Germany’s Regional Data Center Push
Meanwhile, over in Bochum, we’re seeing another municipal player getting in on the action. Glasfaser Ruhr – owned by the local utility – is planning another facility according to WAZ. What’s interesting here is they’re going modular, which makes sense for rapid deployment. And 235 racks at 10kW each? That’s serious density for a regional player.
Basically, what we’re seeing across Germany is municipalities and regional providers taking digital infrastructure into their own hands. They’re not waiting for the big hyperscalers to come to them. With power constraints hitting traditional data center hubs like Frankfurt, these secondary markets are starting to look pretty attractive. The question is whether they can actually compete on scale and connectivity.
So while Rostock’s municipal data center might seem like small potatoes compared to the potential Beowulf project, both represent the same trend: Germany’s digital infrastructure is spreading beyond its traditional centers. And honestly, it’s about time.
