Google Eyes Austria for New Data Center

google-austria

Google will build a new data center on this parcel of farmland near Kronstorf, Austria.

Google today is contemplating building a data center in Kronstorf, Austria, where it has purchased 185 acres of farmland for the project. The project has been in the works since May, when news of Google's site location scouting trips in Austria was published on Twitter by Kronstorf residents.

UPDATE: Initial reports from AFP said Google had confirmed that it would build a data center at the Kronstorf site, the company says its process has not yet reached that stage.

"I'm pleased to confirm that we are looking at the potential opportunities offered to us by this site in Kronstorf, with regards to the possibility of building a data center facility," a Google spokesperson told Data Center Knowledge. "This particular site has a number of features to recommend it - including a good environment in which to do business, excellent economic development team, strong infrastructure and the future possibility of attracting and retaining an excellent workforce.

"We have no immediate plans to start building on the site, as we will next proceed with some technical studies and design work. We are just at the stage of evaluating what future opportunities it might offer us, and we will keep you updated when our plans are firmed up."

Kronstorf is a town of 3,000 near the city of Linz. The land purchased by Google is near several hydro-electric power plants on the river Enns, which would satisfy Google's requirement for the use of renewable energy sources in its facilities.  Kronstorf also is close to major universities in Linz, Steyr and Hagenberg, which could supply a trained IT workforce.