Google Breaks Ground on First Self-Built Data Center in Austria
April 23, 2026
Google has officially broken ground on its first self-built and owned data center in Austria, marking a significant milestone in the company’s European infrastructure expansion. The facility, located in the central Austrian town of Kronstorf, underscores the growing demand for cloud and AI services in the region and highlights Google’s commitment to sustainable data center operations.
The project spans a 70-hectare site, with the data center building covering 42,000 square meters (approximately 452,000 square feet). Of that total, 29,000 square meters (312,155 square feet) will be dedicated to data center space. Google received planning permission for the development earlier this year, nearly 18 years after initially purchasing the land. Ground preparation work had been underway since at least August 2025, following the company’s 2022 announcement of plans to establish an Austrian cloud region.
According to Google’s announcement, the data center will be equipped with off-site heat recovery capabilities. Once a suitable offtaker is identified, eligible partners will be able to receive heat free of charge, supporting the decarbonization of local heat sources. The building will also feature a “green roof” outfitted with solar panels, and Google has pledged to replenish more freshwater than it consumes by 2030. As part of this commitment, the company is setting up a fund, in collaboration with the Upper Austrian Fisheries Association, to improve the water ecosystem of the nearby Enns River.
Thomas Stelzer, Governor of Upper Austria, welcomed the investment, stating: “Google’s decision to build in Kronstorf is a powerful signal for Upper Austria as a hub for business and innovation. It demonstrates that Upper Austria is internationally sought-after, competitive, reliable, and forward-looking. This investment creates jobs, strengthens our digital infrastructure, and provides additional momentum to our AI and innovation strategy. Our goal is clear: we do not just want to use the technologies of tomorrow; we want to develop them right here and secure long-term value creation.”
Google’s expansion in Austria adds to its existing European cloud regions, which include Frankfurt and Berlin in Germany, as well as Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy. The move also comes shortly after Microsoft launched its own cloud region in Austria in July 2025, reflecting intensifying competition among hyperscalers to establish a foothold in the country. The Kronstorf data center is expected to play a key role in supporting local digital transformation and AI-driven innovation, while setting a benchmark for environmentally responsible infrastructure development in the region.
Source: datacenterdynamics
