Austrian energy and engineering firm Innio has announced plans for a 54MW peaking gas power plant to provide backup generation for the Green Rocks data center in Mainz, Germany, which KMW and Green Mountain are developing.

The project will comprise 12 modular energy systems and will be operated at the data center site. The plant is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2027 and will serve as backup for the facility in the event of a grid failure.

“With our innovative energy solutions, we secure the power supply for critical infrastructure and data centers, enabling dynamic AI development not only in the US, but also right here in the heart of Europe,” said Thomas Seeber, managing director of Sales Data Center at Innio Group.

Innio claims that the power plant will offer a sustainable alternative to traditional diesel backup generators, boasting up to 95 percent lower nitrogen oxide emissions. In addition, the systems are hydrogen-ready and can be flexibly adjusted to meet specific power needs.

“The partnership between Innio and KMW is a strategic milestone for energy supply in Mainz. It combines efficiency with future viability and is designed to support the operation of our data center even in the event of a blackout,” said KMW board member Oliver Malerius.

The Green Rocks data center is being developed as part of a 50/50 joint venture between German energy company KMW and Norwegian data center developer Green Mountain. The first 18MW building was completed in February and is located adjacent to KMW’s existing power plants in Mainz. At full build-out, the data center is expected to span three buildings with a total capacity of 54MW. The data center is expected to be completed at the end of 2027.

According to the partners, the data center will run on 100 percent renewable energy, with the gas peaking plant used as backup generation. Cooling for the data center will be provided via the Rhine River, which runs just outside the data center. Excess heat from the data center is expected to be supplied to the local district heating system.

In September, the partners signed a long-term anchor tenant agreement for 36MW of capacity at the data center. The capacity is expected to be handed over in stages over around 3.5 years. The identity of the anchor tenant was not disclosed.