IDED Data Center Location Guide

How can data centers be developed economically in Germany? What are suitable locations? How should risks and opportunities be assessed? And which investors are suitable for regional cooperation?

You will find answers to these questions, along with helpful facts and tools, in our guide.

IDED Data Center Location Guide

How can data centers be developed economically in Germany? What are suitable locations? How should risks and opportunities be assessed? And which investors are suitable for regional cooperation?

You will find answers to these questions, along with helpful facts and tools, in our guide.

IDED Data Center Location Guide

How can data centers be developed economically in Germany? What are suitable locations? How should risks and opportunities be assessed? And which investors are suitable for regional cooperation?

You will find answers to these questions, along with helpful facts and tools, in our guide.

CONTENT OVERVIEW

This guide, over 100 pages long, provides municipalities with an overview of data centers and offers specific recommendations and processes for attracting data center companies to a region.

Introduction: What is a data center?
Introduction: What is a data center?
Data Center Location
Data Center Location
Stakeholder Approach
Stakeholder Approach
Stakeholder Approach
Settlement process
Settlement process
Risk Management
Risk Management
Success Factors
Success Factors
Requirements and Business Models
Requirements and Business Models
Case studies
Case studies
Funding opportunities
Funding opportunities

"Highly detailed and informative, with all the necessary information and tips for establishing a data center. The guide provides foundational understanding and deep insights into the current and future state of data centers."

Stephan Kunkel, Economic Development Mecklenburg Lake District Ltd.

"Highly detailed and informative, with all the necessary information and tips for establishing a data center. The guide provides foundational understanding and deep insights into the current and future state of data centers."

Stephan Kunkel, Economic Development Mecklenburg Lake District Ltd.

Independent since 2019.

IDED was founded as SDIA e.V. in Hamburg in 2019 to demonstrate pathways for sustainable development of digital infrastructure in Europe.

Independent since 2019.

IDED was founded as SDIA e.V. in Hamburg in 2019 to demonstrate pathways for sustainable development of digital infrastructure in Europe.

Since 2025, we have been an independent consultancy for the public sector, building on our research, expertise, and an international network.

Our mission: To support organizations in the sustainable development of digital infrastructure, the digital economy, and digitalization.

Our Specialization

Digital Infrastructure

Digital Economy

Administrative Digitization

Digital Ecosystems

Digital Tools for Data Center Establishment

In addition to our guide, we offer municipalities and regional economic developers two digital tools that can be used to evaluate sites and project inquiries for quick and effective processing.

The tool for municipalities and economic promoters

Quick assessment of suitable sites and project inquiries.

GUIDELINE: Establishing Data Centers FOR Municipalities

The guide provides the framework and manual for developing data center projects.

DIGITAL PROJECT EVALUATION FOR MUNICIPALITIES

Incoming inquiries from investors can be quickly assessed in terms of risk, impact, and effects.

< Evaluate projects in under 60 minutes

Over 100 criteria

Digital Land Assessment

Our tool evaluates suitable areas based on the requirements of different types of data centers.

Digital Tools for Data Center Establishment

In addition to our guide, we offer municipalities and regional economic developers two digital tools that can be used to evaluate sites and project inquiries for quick and effective processing.

The tool for municipalities and economic promoters

Quick assessment of suitable sites and project inquiries.

GUIDELINE: Establishing Data Centers FOR Municipalities

The guide provides the framework and manual for developing data center projects.

DIGITAL PROJECT EVALUATION FOR MUNICIPALITIES

Incoming inquiries from investors can be quickly assessed in terms of risk, impact, and effects.

< Evaluate projects in under 60 minutes

Over 100 criteria

Digital Land Assessment

Our tool evaluates suitable areas based on the requirements of different types of data centers.

Digital Tools for Data Center Establishment

In addition to our guide, we offer municipalities and regional economic developers two digital tools that can be used to evaluate sites and project inquiries for quick and effective processing.

The tool for municipalities and economic promoters

Quick assessment of suitable sites and project inquiries.

GUIDE: Data Center Establishment FOR Municipalities

The guide provides the framework and manual for developing data center projects.

DIGITAL PROJECT EVALUATION FOR MUNICIPALITIES

Incoming inquiries from investors can be quickly assessed in terms of risk, impact, and effects.

< Evaluate projects in under 60 minutes

Over 100 criteria

Digital Land Assessment

Our tool allows for the evaluation of suitable areas according to the requirements of various data center types.

OUR OFFER

Order the guide or book a suitable training session on the content with our experts. The digital tools can be added as an annual license. All proceeds support the organization's independence.

GUIDE

Download the complete guide as a PDF.

€500

one-time

All chapters included

Attachments with valuable tools and facts

Case studies

GUIDE AND TRAINING

We present the contents of the guide to you personally and discuss your strategies and challenges.

€1,900

one-time

Guide included

4-hour training with real estate and data center experts

All training materials included

LICENSE FOR TOOLS

In addition to the training and guide, you will have access to the digital tools for one year.

€3,100

one-time

Guide included

Includes a 4-hour training with experts.

Access to the Land Valuation Tool (1 Year)

Access to the project request evaluation tool (1 year)

OUR OFFER

Order the guide or book a suitable training session on the content with our experts. The digital tools can be added as an annual license. All proceeds support the organization's independence.

GUIDE

Download the complete guide as a PDF.

€500

one-time

All chapters included

Attachments with valuable tools and facts

Case studies

GUIDE AND TRAINING

We present the contents of the guide to you personally and discuss your strategies and challenges.

€1,900

one-time

Guide included

4-hour training with real estate and data center experts

All training materials included

LICENSE FOR TOOLS

In addition to the training and guide, you will have access to the digital tools for one year.

€3,100

one-time

Guide included

Includes a 4-hour training with experts.

Access to the Land Valuation Tool (1 Year)

Access to the project request evaluation tool (1 year)

OUR OFFER

Order the guide or book a suitable training session on the content with our experts. The digital tools can be added as an annual license. All proceeds support the organization's independence.

GUIDE

Download the complete guide as a PDF.

€500

one-time

All chapters included

Attachments with valuable tools and facts

Case studies

GUIDE AND TRAINING

We present the contents of the guide to you personally and discuss your strategies and challenges.

€1,900

one-time

Guide included

4-hour training with real estate and data center experts

All training materials included

LICENSE FOR TOOLS

In addition to the training and guide, you will have access to the digital tools for one year.

€3,100

one-time

Guide included

Includes a 4-hour training with experts.

Access to the Land Valuation Tool (1 Year)

Access to the project request evaluation tool (1 year)

OUR EXPERTS

We are available for your inquiries. The guide and tools can be ordered directly through our team. Both the guide and the tools are exclusively available to the public sector.

Kimberly Jahnel Portrait
Kimberly Jahnel

Director of Human Resources

About the Person

Kimberly Jahnel Portrait
Kimberly Jahnel

Director of Human Resources

About the Person

Max Schulze Portrait
Max Schulze

Director

About the Person

Max Schulze Portrait
Max Schulze

Director

About the Person

Explore more services from IDED

Nutzen Sie vorgefertigte Vorlagen und Komponenten für ein professionelles, ansprechendes Äußeres. Sparen Sie Zeit und konzentrieren Sie sich auf den Inhalt mit unseren benutzerfreundlichen, anpassbaren Designlösungen.

Community Building

A digital ecosystem does not develop by itself – we strategically bring IT providers, the economy, and the digital sector together in a region.

Data Center Location Strategy

Data centers generate value but require space, power, and water – is it worth it for your region?

Digital Policy Consulting

Digitalization programs often fail not because of technology, but due to a lack of political frameworks and domain knowledge.

Digitization for Public Administration

Administrative digitalization improves citizen services—while simultaneously strengthening the regional digital economy and meeting sustainability goals.

Ecosystem Strategy

Regions invest in infrastructure, start-ups, and digitalization, but rarely as a system. This leaves value creation potential untapped.

Impact Assessment

Data centers consume electricity, IT portfolios are growing, servers are aging - do you know the actual impact?

Land Evaluation

An area near energy infrastructure can be ideal for data centers—or entirely unsuitable. We resolve it in a few days.

Monitoring

Data centers make commitments to environmental and economic impact. Without independent monitoring, they remain unchecked.

Needs Assessment

Data centers are often built without a clear understanding of demand – we determine the actual digital resource needs of your region.

Procurement Advisory

IT procurement in the public sector rarely fails due to budget issues, but more often due to criteria that do not reflect political and environmental goals.

Explore more services from IDED

Nutzen Sie vorgefertigte Vorlagen und Komponenten für ein professionelles, ansprechendes Äußeres. Sparen Sie Zeit und konzentrieren Sie sich auf den Inhalt mit unseren benutzerfreundlichen, anpassbaren Designlösungen.

Community Building

A digital ecosystem does not develop by itself – we strategically bring IT providers, the economy, and the digital sector together in a region.

Data Center Location Strategy

Data centers generate value but require space, power, and water – is it worth it for your region?

Digital Policy Consulting

Digitalization programs often fail not because of technology, but due to a lack of political frameworks and domain knowledge.

Digitization for Public Administration

Administrative digitalization improves citizen services—while simultaneously strengthening the regional digital economy and meeting sustainability goals.

Ecosystem Strategy

Regions invest in infrastructure, start-ups, and digitalization, but rarely as a system. This leaves value creation potential untapped.

Impact Assessment

Data centers consume electricity, IT portfolios are growing, servers are aging - do you know the actual impact?

Land Evaluation

An area near energy infrastructure can be ideal for data centers—or entirely unsuitable. We resolve it in a few days.

Monitoring

Data centers make commitments to environmental and economic impact. Without independent monitoring, they remain unchecked.

Needs Assessment

Data centers are often built without a clear understanding of demand – we determine the actual digital resource needs of your region.

Procurement Advisory

IT procurement in the public sector rarely fails due to budget issues, but more often due to criteria that do not reflect political and environmental goals.

Explore more services from IDED

Nutzen Sie vorgefertigte Vorlagen und Komponenten für ein professionelles, ansprechendes Äußeres. Sparen Sie Zeit und konzentrieren Sie sich auf den Inhalt mit unseren benutzerfreundlichen, anpassbaren Designlösungen.

Community Building
Data Center Location Strategy
Digital Policy Consulting
Digitization for Public Administration
Ecosystem Strategy
Impact Assessment
Land Evaluation
Monitoring
Needs Assessment
Procurement Advisory