Microsoft is set to invest €2.2 billion ($2.4 billion) in a substantial data center project in northeastern Spain, according to regional authorities. This move marks a significant step for Aragon as it strives to become a prominent cloud storage hub.

The announcement, which follows previous plans unveiled by the US software giant, brings Microsoft’s total planned investment in Aragon to nearly €6.7 billion, regional leader Jorge Azcon stated during a press briefing. This development mirrors a similar announcement by Amazon in May, where its cloud computing division committed to investing €15.7 billion to expand its data centers in Aragon, where it currently operates three facilities.

“This is great news for the Aragonese economy,” said Azcon, emphasizing the anticipated economic benefits. He believes this investment will have a “knock-on effect” in attracting other companies to the region.

In October, Microsoft disclosed its intention to establish a data center campus in Aragon to provide “cloud services to European companies and public bodies” without specifying the investment amount. According to figures from the IDC consultancy, Microsoft’s project, with its 88-hectare (217-acre) campus, could “create over 2,100 technology jobs in Aragon between 2026 and 2030.”

“Data centers will undoubtedly play a fundamental role as the first link in the chain… that will generate investment, innovation, and a wider range of digital services in our community,” Azcon added.

For several months, major tech companies have been ramping up their investments in data centers, where servers are housed to store vast amounts of information used by both companies and individuals. This growth aligns with the demand driven by the need to develop generative artificial intelligence, which requires robust electrical capacity due to the substantial energy consumption of data farms.

In this context, Aragon is an ideal location given its sparse population, abundant sunshine, and strong wind exposure. The region hosts both solar and wind farms and is well-connected to Spain’s communications networks.

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