Real Estate | Sustainable Energy | Infrastructure Finance | @LBBW’s Post

🌐 🖥 Financing for the digital age 🖥🌐 As part of a banking consortium, KfW IPEX-Bank acts as Facility Agent and Security Agent for the EUR 475 million debt financing to the data centre developer and operator Mainova WebHouse in Frankfurt, Germany. The consortium consists of ING, Investec, KfW, KfW IPEX-Bank, Kommunalkredit Austria AG, LBBW, NORD/LB and SEB. Mainova WebHouse closed its first debt raising process in the beginning of November and will use the facility to finance the construction of two data centre campuses in the Frankfurt area. The first data centre campus with a capacity of 30 MW will partially start operations soon. The newly built data centres with a target PUE of 1.2 (Power Usage Effectiveness) will meet high demands regarding sustainability: among other aspects, they will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy; waste heat will be fed directly into networks; the greening of the façade and outdoor area contributes to insulation and urban integration. To underpin the above, the data centres will receive a LEED Gold certification. With this financing, KfW IPEX-Bank once more underlines its commitment to financing digital #infrastructure in Germany and around the world. #datacentre #datacenter #digitalinfrastructure #decarbonization #sustainability #IPEX Mainova AG

“Data centre infrastructure investors, developers, and occupiers are focusing on four key criteria in site selection: (1) a high level of energy nearby; (2) excellent high-speed fibre; (3) a dense population centre of end users; and (4) the skilled people required to build and maintain the data centre. In the UK, all of these criteria are available, but the differentiator among developers is the ability to pull all four together before the competition," explains Rob Thompson, Head of UKIME Real Estate at Dentons. 🔹 Join both Rob Thompson and Alex Coulter, Real Estate Partners at Dentons, at the upcoming GRI Data Centres Investment Opportunities in Europe 2024 forum. GRI Club and co-host Dentons will be bringing together the key stakeholders of data centres and real estate, to forge business connections and discuss what opportunities are driving significant investment and development across the UK and European data centre real estate space. 🔗 See the full schedule and line up here: https://lnkd.in/duDuZ9in #griclub #realestate #datacentres #investment #networking

Thrilled to be hosting the GRI Data Centres Investment Opportunities in Europe 2024 forum at Dentons in London and moderating a session on data centre investment where we’ll cover capital demand, financing options for capex and the biggest opportunities in this space. We’ll hear from top leaders at Blackstone Starwood Capital Group Citi Pictet Asset Management CIM Group PIMCO and BGO on the investment landscape and the role of institutional capital. #griclub #realestate #datacentres #investment #Dentonsrealestate #Dentons

Merlin Properties Raises €921 Million to Expand Data Centres 🏗️ MERLIN Properties from Spain has raised €921 million ($998 million) in new capital to expand its data centre business, according to Bloomberg. Despite this capital raise, Merlin's shares declined by 1.75% to €10.10 per share in Madrid trading on Wednesday, with a current market capitalization of approximately €4.7 billion. 📉 Top shareholders Banco Santander SA and Nortia Capital, along with CEO Ismael Clemente, participated in the offering to maintain their stakes, demonstrating confidence in Merlin's strategic direction and growth potential. The company will issue 94 million new shares through an accelerated book-building at €9.8 per share, a 4.7% discount compared to Tuesday's closing price. 💡 At Hanley, we view Merlin Properties' capital raise as a significant step toward enhancing data infrastructure. As specialists in accelerating data centre applications, we see this move as a strong indicator of growth potential in the industry. This strategic direction aligns with the increasing demand for robust and scalable data centre solutions. #rockwellautomation #datacenterinfrastructure #datacentercooling #datacentreinnovation #rok

The data centre market in Poland will grow at a double-digit rate in the coming years. Similar to Western Europe, Poland will become an attractive investment target, driven both by the development of new technologies and the prospect of increasing consolidation and professionalisation in the sector. In addition to the ongoing demand for infrastructure, the industry is challenged by ESG and EU KPI reporting requirements. “Data centres currently have the highest growth potential of all areas of the real estate market in Poland,” says Michal Pietuszko, partner and head of DLA Piper’s Real Estate practice in Warsaw. For more information please follow the link in the comments: #ESG #datacenters #investment

It was a pleasure to be on a Digital Infrastructure panel discussion at SuperReturn Global Infrastructure 2024 in London to share perspectives on several topics from digital infrastructure capital intensity to sustainability and power availability concerns, geopolitical factors and technological risks as well as how digital infrastructure is impacting the broader economy. 🔦 Digital infrastructure is capital-intensive with strong growth potential. Given the significant demand for capital: Which types of assets are best positioned to secure future growth and equity funding? Why are some assets better positioned than others? Are there country-specific factors to consider? How do you see regulation influencing this space? 💡 As sustainability becomes more important, power demand in data centers is a growing concern. How is digital infrastructure impacting the broader economy, and what risks and opportunities does this create? 🕯 Geopolitical factors like deglobalization, supply chain disruptions, and data sovereignty concerns are influencing the digital infrastructure sector. Which sub-sectors might be most affected? 🚀 With rapid technological advancements creating new investment opportunities, what technological risks do you see? I would like to thank my co-panelists Vincent Gerritsen and Mark McComiskey for their insights on the market and the industry in general, and Dennis Schnutenhaus who could no join us and helped a lot on the preparation of our good discussion. #SRInfra #infrastructurePE #digitalinfra

Insights from Today’s Discussion on Site Selection, Real Estate, and Power Supply for Data Centres 📈 Today’s discussion, expertly chaired by Alex Burgoyne, Head of Data Centre Valuations at Knight Frank, provided invaluable insights into the intricacies of site selection and real estate for data centres. Our esteemed speakers were: Alexander Burgoyne, Head of Data Centre Valuations, Knight Frank Stuart Jarvis, Investment Director, CapitaLand Gustavo Cardozo Lupi, Managing Director & Partner, Panattoni Iberia Alvaro Rivera, COO, Box2Bit Key highlights from the conversation: Power Supply as a Critical Factor: Gustavo Cardozo Lupi emphasized the importance of power availability in site selection, noting that data centres often locate where power infrastructure is robust. Role of Industrial Real Estate: Alvaro Rivera from Box2Bit discussed the necessity of secure power supplies and high voltage connections for hyperscale data centres. The process of establishing power to a site can take 2-3 years, underscoring the importance of planning and collaboration with power suppliers. Regulatory and Local Council Involvement: Stuart Jarvis highlighted the crucial role of local councils in the site selection process. Their understanding and cooperation can significantly influence the lifecycle benefits of data centre investments. Focus on Customer Needs: A key takeaway was the need for data centres to not only secure power but also to cater to customer demands, ensuring that facilities are strategically located to meet operational and growth needs. The discussion illuminated the multi-faceted nature of data centre site selection, where power, planning, regulation, and local engagement converge to drive successful outcomes. #DataCentres #RealEstate #SiteSelection #PowerSupply #IndustrialRealEstate #TechInfrastructure #Hyperscale #SmartCities

Our Data centre cost index for 2024 is live, with five new markets added for this year’s edition: 🌎 Bordeaux 🌎 Cardiff 🌎 Helsinki 🌎 Lagos 🌎 Lisbon While some have been popular, others are emerging as hot spots for investment and construction activity, particularly over the past 12-24 months. The report covers 50 key markets for data centre construction worldwide and provides an index ranking and an indicative US Dollar per watt (US$/W) cost for each location. Read the report to access our data set and insights into the latest trends impacting data centre construction: https://bit.ly/3YhaNdw #RealEstate #DataCentres #construction

The 2024 Turner & Townsend #datacenter cost index is a properly useful resource in our sector. It’s put together by a global team of genuine experts (who are also awesome colleagues) See below for all the details👇 #construction #cost #projectmanagement

🌐 European Data Centre Market Reaches New Heights in 2024 📈 The European data centre market is witnessing unprecedented growth, with 2024 marking a record year for investment. Traditional hubs—Frankfurt, London, and Paris—continue to attract substantial capital, while Dublin and Amsterdam are experiencing slower growth due to planning and power limitations. Emerging regions, including the Nordics, Madrid, and Milan, are set to see significant development over the next two years. In the UK, a major policy shift has positioned data centres as "critical infrastructure," sparking noteworthy investments such as Blackstone’s $13 billion AI data centre in Northumberland. The sector has also seen robust M&A activity, drawing investors to contractors, consultancies, and suppliers. However, challenges persist. While CSA costs have stabilised, MEP and OFCI costs remain elevated due to persistent labour shortages and material availability issues. High copper and aluminium prices continue to drive price volatility, underscoring the complexity of this dynamic market. #DataCentres #Investment #Construction #Europe #UK #Infrastructure #Technology #EconomicTrends