Data center operator Pure has been granted approval for a planned development in Madrid, Spain.

The company this week announced it has received final planning approvals for Phase I of its €400 million ($463m) Madrid data center and private sub-station. Work on MAD01 is due to start this month.

The first phase of work will see the development of a substation and a 30MW data center. At full build-out, the campus could total 70MW. The modular development will offer both air and liquid cooling via a closed-loop system.

“Like many major European cities, Madrid’s demand for digital infrastructure far outstrips the supply coming online. Pure DC’s ability to bring on new low-latency, high-quality capacity in such supply-constrained locations demonstrates our capability to deliver compelling partnerships for local authorities, potential customers, and our supply chain,” said Dame Dawn Childs, CEO, Pure Data Centres.

The company first acquired land in Madrid in July 2024. Pure acquired a 190,000 sq ft (17,650 sqm) site in the Meco area of the Spanish capital from European real estate private equity manager ActivumSG for €11 million (then $11.9m).

Pure said it anticipates the on-site substation will be completed by early 2027, with subsequent construction of the data halls. Phase II will see a 40MW expansion, subject to the necessary permitting approvals.

The company said its private substation will incorporate Siemens Blue Switchgear GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear), making it one of Spain’s first substations to incorporate GHG-free switchgear. Blue switchgear replaces traditional, highly polluting insulating gases with zero-harm greenhouse gases, zero toxic decomposition products, and zero safety requirements during handling and maintenance.

Pedro L. Sanz, Mayor of Meco Municipality, said: “This license approval highlights the constructive dialogue and collaboration between Pure DC and our City Council. The project not only reinforces our city’s position as a technology hub but marks a mutual achievement that will boost employment and the digital future of our region.”

Founded around 2013, the company has developments in London (Brent Cross, Park Royal), the UAE (Abu Dhabi), Spain (Madrid), Indonesia (Jakarta), Ireland (Dublin), and Finland (Seinäjoki). On its website, Pure says it has more than 500MW of capacity live or under development.

Pure expands into Finland

Oaktree Capital Management-owned Pure is also expanding into the Nordics and developing a data center in Finland.

Recently added to the firm’s website, the company is planning a 500MW site on 370 acres in Seinäjoki in West Finland.

Pure said the substation for the first data hall is constructed and live. The FIN01 site will be developed using repeatable 40MW AI-ready modules equipped with direct-to-chip liquid cooling to support high-density workloads.

A company known as SDC Project Ventures is listed as a partner on the project, though few details are available.

Finland’s environment, abundant land, and cheap green energy have attracted data center developers, with the Finnish Data Center Association estimating that live capacity in the country will increase from 285MW in 2025 to 1.5GW in 2030.

Most of the country’s data centers are located in the country’s capital, Helsinki. Established operators, including the likes of Verne, Equinix, and atNorth, have a presence in Finland, while new operators such as Polarnode, FCDC, Arcem, and Hyperco are planning multiple developments across the country. International operators, including QTS and DayOne, are also looking to develop in Finland.