Google has commenced the construction of its newest data center in Belgium, set to be situated in the Walloon municipality of Farciennes. The permit for this project was obtained by Google back in February.
According to VRT, the construction of Google's new data center officially began on Friday and is estimated to span 'several years'. This substantial investment by Google amounts to one billion dollars in Belgium. Apart from the Farciennes location, Google is also planning to expand its existing data center site in Belgium, including the enhancement of the solar park nearby.
Google had previously announced its intention to establish a new data center in Farciennes, with plans for three data centers to eventually be housed there. The company had indicated that construction would kick off towards the end of 2023, with the first data center expected to be operational by 2025. In February, Google was granted approval to proceed with the construction of a data center in Wallonia, which is projected to generate 400 job opportunities upon completion.
Once operational, the new data center complex will signify Google's sixth base in Belgium, joining the existing five centers in Saint-Ghislain. Additionally, Google had acquired 36 hectares of land in La Louvière, a municipality in Hainaut province, in 2022. The specific purpose for this acquired land has yet to be disclosed by the tech giant.
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