firstcolo builds 24MW AI-ready data center in Hesse

German data center operator firstcolo has started construction on its FRA7 colocation facility in Rosbach vor der Höhe, Hesse. The €250 million project is positioned to serve enterprise workloads requiring high-density compute, including AI and high-performance computing (HPC) applications.

The facility will offer 24MW of total capacity across 11,555 square meters, with rack densities reaching up to 200kW. firstcolo has specified that the data center will use liquid cooling and run entirely on certified renewable energy sources. Completion timelines have not been publicly disclosed, but the company has confirmed that the infrastructure is being built to accommodate next-generation computing demands.

Technical specifications and market positioning

FRA7 is designed to address the growing demand for high-density colocation in Europe. The 200kW rack density target places the facility in a segment typically associated with AI training clusters, large-scale simulations, and other compute-intensive workloads. Liquid cooling is a necessity at these power levels, as traditional air-cooling methods become insufficient for heat dissipation.

firstcolo’s decision to power the facility with certified green electricity aligns with broader industry trends toward sustainability, particularly in the European market where regulatory and customer expectations for low-carbon infrastructure are increasing. The company has not provided details on the specific renewable energy sources or power purchase agreements (PPAs) that will be used.

The Rosbach site is located near Frankfurt, a key European data center hub. firstcolo already operates two colocation facilities in the region, serving clients across 33 countries. The new data center will expand its capacity to meet demand from enterprises, cloud providers, and AI-driven workloads.

Strategic context and industry implications

The investment reflects a broader shift in the data center market toward higher-density infrastructure. As AI adoption grows, operators are increasingly designing facilities capable of supporting specialized hardware, such as GPUs and accelerators, which require significantly more power and cooling than traditional server racks. firstcolo’s focus on 200kW racks indicates a bet on the continued expansion of AI and HPC workloads in enterprise and cloud environments.

Frankfurt’s status as a major internet exchange point and financial hub makes it a strategic location for high-performance data centers. The city’s dense fiber connectivity and proximity to major cloud providers and enterprises have driven significant investment in recent years. firstcolo’s expansion in the region positions it to compete with hyperscale providers and other colocation operators targeting AI-driven demand.