Blab AI
firstcolo Begins Construction of 24-MW FRA7 Data Center in Rosbach, Hesse
On 15 June 2026, firstcolo, the Frankfurt‑based colocation provider, broke ground on its new FRA7 data center in Rosbach vor der Höhe, a suburb of Frankfurt am Main. The €250 million project will deliver roughly 24 MW of power capacity.
Designed for cloud, artificial‑intelligence (AI) and high‑performance computing workloads, FRA7 will support power densities of up to 200 kW per rack and will employ advanced liquid‑cooling systems to manage heat. The facility will run entirely on certified green electricity and aims for a power‑usage effectiveness (PUE) below 1.2.
According to the announcement, the project ranks among the largest digital‑infrastructure investments in Hesse. Hesse’s Minister of Digitalization, Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, said that high‑performance data centers are a “central prerequisite for digitalization and artificial intelligence” and that the groundbreaking signals Germany’s commitment to European sovereignty.
The investment also matters for Rosbach. Mayor Steffen Maar highlighted that the project will create qualified jobs in a future‑oriented technology sector and that firstcolo will supply the city with waste heat free of charge for at least 20 years. The city plans to explore ways to use this heat for climate‑friendly heating.
FRA7 will operate at Tier III compliance and feature a 2,000 Gb/s IP backbone. It will also incorporate battery storage that can feed surplus energy back into the grid.
A joint‑venture consortium (ARGE) is responsible for the construction. Lupp, the structural engineering firm, will provide the shell, façade and interior fit‑out. SPIE will deliver the building services engineering and all critical infrastructure systems. Daniel Schmitt, Managing Director of SPIE Data Center GmbH, described the project as “technologically highly demanding” and said it sets new standards in energy efficiency and power density.
Dennis Bausch, a senior engineer at Lupp, added that the company brings extensive experience in data‑center construction to the project.
firstcolo’s CEO, Jerome Evans, emphasized the long‑term strategic importance of the investment. He said that FRA7 “marks the starting point of a comprehensive investment offensive” and that the company plans to expand its data‑center capacities in the near future.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives from politics, business, trade associations and the media. The event also featured the District Administrator of the Wetterau District, Jan Weckler, firstcolo’s CFO Dennis Bergfeld, COO Nicolaj Kamensek, and the President of the Gießen‑Friedberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Rainer Schwarz.
Rainer Schwarz noted that digital infrastructure is a central location factor for companies and that FRA7 is an important investment signal in economically challenging times.
firstcolo has operated since 2007 and offers colocation, managed services and cloud platforms. The company maintains a 99.999 % uptime guarantee and holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications.
FRA7 will be one of the most advanced green data centers in Germany, combining high power density with low environmental impact. The project demonstrates how large‑scale digital infrastructure can be built sustainably while supporting the growing demand for AI and cloud services.
Construction is expected to proceed over the next several years, with the first operational phase anticipated in 2028. The project will contribute to Hesse’s digital economy, create skilled jobs, and reinforce Germany’s position as a hub for high‑performance computing.
For further information, firstcolo’s marketing contact is Boris Mayer (marketing@first‑colo.net) and PR contacts are Niklas Bädjer and Nane Köberlein at Borgmeier Public Relations.
Designed for cloud, artificial‑intelligence (AI) and high‑performance computing workloads, FRA7 will support power densities of up to 200 kW per rack and will employ advanced liquid‑cooling systems to manage heat. The facility will run entirely on certified green electricity and aims for a power‑usage effectiveness (PUE) below 1.2.
According to the announcement, the project ranks among the largest digital‑infrastructure investments in Hesse. Hesse’s Minister of Digitalization, Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, said that high‑performance data centers are a “central prerequisite for digitalization and artificial intelligence” and that the groundbreaking signals Germany’s commitment to European sovereignty.
The investment also matters for Rosbach. Mayor Steffen Maar highlighted that the project will create qualified jobs in a future‑oriented technology sector and that firstcolo will supply the city with waste heat free of charge for at least 20 years. The city plans to explore ways to use this heat for climate‑friendly heating.
FRA7 will operate at Tier III compliance and feature a 2,000 Gb/s IP backbone. It will also incorporate battery storage that can feed surplus energy back into the grid.
A joint‑venture consortium (ARGE) is responsible for the construction. Lupp, the structural engineering firm, will provide the shell, façade and interior fit‑out. SPIE will deliver the building services engineering and all critical infrastructure systems. Daniel Schmitt, Managing Director of SPIE Data Center GmbH, described the project as “technologically highly demanding” and said it sets new standards in energy efficiency and power density.
Dennis Bausch, a senior engineer at Lupp, added that the company brings extensive experience in data‑center construction to the project.
firstcolo’s CEO, Jerome Evans, emphasized the long‑term strategic importance of the investment. He said that FRA7 “marks the starting point of a comprehensive investment offensive” and that the company plans to expand its data‑center capacities in the near future.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives from politics, business, trade associations and the media. The event also featured the District Administrator of the Wetterau District, Jan Weckler, firstcolo’s CFO Dennis Bergfeld, COO Nicolaj Kamensek, and the President of the Gießen‑Friedberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Rainer Schwarz.
Rainer Schwarz noted that digital infrastructure is a central location factor for companies and that FRA7 is an important investment signal in economically challenging times.
firstcolo has operated since 2007 and offers colocation, managed services and cloud platforms. The company maintains a 99.999 % uptime guarantee and holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications.
FRA7 will be one of the most advanced green data centers in Germany, combining high power density with low environmental impact. The project demonstrates how large‑scale digital infrastructure can be built sustainably while supporting the growing demand for AI and cloud services.
Construction is expected to proceed over the next several years, with the first operational phase anticipated in 2028. The project will contribute to Hesse’s digital economy, create skilled jobs, and reinforce Germany’s position as a hub for high‑performance computing.
For further information, firstcolo’s marketing contact is Boris Mayer (marketing@first‑colo.net) and PR contacts are Niklas Bädjer and Nane Köberlein at Borgmeier Public Relations.
