The Mora City Council (Toledo) was this Wednesday the scene of the presentation of the 'data center' project "Malpica AI 300MW", promoted by a business consortium led by EdgeMode and Bloom Energy. The initiative contemplates an approximate investment of 3,000 million euros and the creation of between 500 and 900 stable jobs once the facility is fully operational.
The mayor of the town, Emilio Bravo, has highlighted during the event the economic scope of the action, both for the municipality and for the entire region. He was accompanied at the presentation by the CEO of EdgeMode Inc, Charlie Faulkner, and the Director for Europe of Bloom Energy, Reto Zueger, at an event that included the signing of a memorandum of understanding and collaboration between the promoting companies and the Mora City Council.
Bravo has defined the arrival of this data center as "a before and after" for Mora and has emphasized its labor impact. It is estimated that the construction phase of the 'data center' alone will generate 3,000 direct jobs, to which another 2,500 indirect jobs linked to the work and associated services will be added.
Once the complex is operational, the mayor has estimated around 1,000 stable jobs will be offered. "Engineers, operations technicians, security personnel, maintenance, and administration will be needed," he explained, highlighting the professional qualification potential that the project will require.
The mayor has acknowledged that "it is true that it is an ambitious project and will take time to carry out," but has insisted that "building a 'data center' campus in Mora is something that can change the history of Mora and the history of Castilla-La Mancha." In this regard, he has expressed his hope that the initiative will receive the support of the regional government. "I am sure that the regional government will support it, as it supports all important investments that arrive," he stated.
A 300 MW project integrated into a European network
For his part, Charlie Faulkner has detailed that the future data center will have 300 MW of installed power and is part of a broader plan that foresees the launch of five facilities in Spain, all of them connected within a European network.
"Our objective is to create a data center as an infrastructure project that attracts investors and generates economic benefits for the local community," indicated the CEO of EdgeMode, convinced of the business possibilities opened up by the rise of technology. In his opinion, "there is a huge demand for Artificial Intelligence" and the complex "will create many economic opportunities for the community in the coming years."
Faulkner has announced that, due to the technical characteristics of the project, its launch is expected in a short time frame and that "from the start of construction to its commissioning," only "18 months to two years" will pass. Regarding the volume of capital required, he has assured that "the financing process is underway" and that "it is a developed project in which we have a lot of confidence."
As for the choice of Mora as the location, the head of EdgeMode explained that it is due to "a combination of location, attributes, and the relationship with local administrations," especially highlighting the municipality's good location due to its proximity to Madrid.
An Autonomous and Sustainable Energy System
In the energy section, Reto Zueger explained that the supply will be organized through 30 modules of 10 MW each, powered by natural gas and operating independently of the Electrical Grid. This design aims to guarantee a stable supply adapted to the complex's needs.
"Many of you have asked why we use this technology and not connect to the main grid," pointed out the director of Bloom Energy, to specify that "the characteristics of the European energy system do not allow this type of connection." He added that this autonomous system "allows the Malpica data center to start operating in a short period of time," which fits with the schedule planned by the promoters.
Likewise, Zueger emphasized that the chosen solution does not require a water source for its operation and has a reduced level of emissions, which, in his opinion, makes it "a very sustainable solution." In his words, "it is the most sustainable and advanced technology we have at this moment," thus reinforcing the project's commitment to an efficient and environmentally friendly energy model.