Opened last month in the Green Energy Park in Zellik, northwest Brussels, the striking-looking nine-storey Nexus data center was designed with the collaboration of anchor tenants the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (Free University of Brussels) and the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussels (Brussels University Hospital). With 7.2 MW of IT load based on a 12.5 MVA renewable power feed, the 10,000 sqm data center offers medium, high and extreme power-density modules, and will house the VSC Flemish Supercomputer. It is also one of the most sustainable data centers in Europe, with 100% renewable power, optimized PUE design, a photovoltaic facade generating up to 0.5 MW, rainwater recuperation for cooling, and 100% heat re-use based on a thermal smart grid. Uniquely, the carbon-neutral facility has been ‘triple-certified’; it has obtained BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for circular and sustainable building practices; EDGE Advanced status; and Uptime Institute Tier III certification for Design and Operational Sustainability. The site also offers plenty of room for future development.
“We are delighted to add this brand new ultra-sustainable facility to our portfolio as Penta Infra BRU01,“ said Bob Sprengers, Penta Infra CEO. “Brussels is at the heart of both Europe and the data-intensive FLAP hubs, and this beautifully-designed facility is the perfect flexible platform for digital growth. Its exceptional sustainability credentials also make it a perfect fit for our low impact, 100% renewable-powered portfolio.”
“We are very proud of what we have achieved in developing this facility along with our partners," said Michael Gheysens, Ghelamco Managing Director Belgium. “It is innovative and progressive, we are confident it provides a valuable blueprint for next generation sustainable data center design. For Ghelamco this is the first of many data centers we will develop internationally, and we feel it is a perfect match for an experienced and environmentally-responsible colocation provider like Penta Infra.”