Swissgrid Launches Tender for Data Center Infrastructure Installation Contract

Swissgrid Seeks Partners for Data Center Expansion and Modernization

March 11, 2026

Switzerland's national electricity transmission system operator, Swissgrid, has initiated a significant procurement process, inviting bids for a comprehensive three-year contract to install server racks and associated infrastructure across its data center facilities. This move underscores the growing infrastructure demands on critical national utilities as they modernize their digital backbones to support an increasingly electrified and data-driven economy.

The tender, announced this week, covers not only the physical installation of new server racks but also the supply of all necessary materials. This includes fiber optic and copper cabling, the racks themselves, and various protection devices. While Swissgrid has not disclosed the specific locations or the precise number of new server units involved, the company is known to operate two primary data centers in partnership with external firms, alongside several dedicated IT rooms distributed throughout Switzerland.

In a statement, Swissgrid outlined its operational model, noting, "Swissgrid relies on external service providers to perform technical and administrative tasks in the IT and electrical sectors at its data centers. These providers offer support, in particular, with the installation and removal of IT components, cabling work, documentation in the central planning tool, as well as maintenance, troubleshooting, and material logistics. This collaboration is based on clearly defined processes and guidelines to ensure smooth operation and the highest security standards."

The company, which employs 800 staff and manages Switzerland's 6,700-kilometer extra-high-voltage grid, has operated its two core data centers since 2018. The contract pursuit aligns with broader national infrastructure imperatives. Swissgrid has previously identified a need for 31 individual grid upgrade projects by 2040, with an estimated total cost of 5.5 billion Swiss francs (approximately $7 billion). These upgrades are deemed essential to accommodate surging electricity demand fueled by the expansion of data centers, the proliferation of heat pumps, and the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

This tender signals Swissgrid's proactive steps to bolster its internal IT capacity and resilience. By securing a long-term partner for data center physical infrastructure, the grid operator aims to ensure its technical facilities can reliably support both its core operational technology and the escalating data processing requirements of a modernizing power network.

Source: datacenterdynamics