Cuerva and Alto Infrastructure to drive Andalusia's first large-scale AI Data Center

This partnership brings together Cuerva's expertise in energy infrastructure and Alto Infrastructure's capabilities in data center development to deliver one of Spain's most ambitious AI computing projects at CITAI technology hub in Escúzar (Granada, Spain)

Granada. 08/07/2026. Energy company and ecosystem Cuerva and digital infrastructure developer Alto Infrastructure (former Sierra DC) have confirmed a strategic partnership for the development of the SP01 data center at the Ciudad Industrial, Tecnológica y Área de Innovación (CITAI) in Escúzar, Granada. SP01 aims to become one of Spain's largest AI and high-performance computing data centers, and a landmark project for Andalusia's emergence as a hub for advanced digital infrastructure.

The project is a further step in consolidating Granada as a technological and energy hub in Southern Europe, combining talent linked to the University of Granada, industrial development capabilities and access to one of the most competitive energy mixes on the continent.

The agreement between the two companies is already underway, with Alto Infrastructure developing the first phase of the infrastructure, while the power supply and infrastructure are being developed simultaneously. This marks the key milestone that will enable progress towards the execution of the first phase of Andalusia’s first large-scale AI-specialised data center. The announcement follows the official first stone ceremony of SP01 held in Escúzar on the 25th of June, which marked the start of construction of the project.

The project is expected to mobilise a potential investment of over 3 billion euros, of which approximately 700 million correspond to the development of the full data center infrastructure itself. The remaining investment will be driven by the deployment of servers, graphics processing units —GPUs— and advanced computing platforms by campus clients.

Where clean energy meets the AI economy

Artificial intelligence is transforming the global economy and accelerating a new generation of energy demand. Data centers no longer depend solely on computing power and connectivity: they also require guaranteed access to stable, secure, high-capacity electricity, with the levels of continuity expected from critical infrastructure. It is precisely at this intersection between energy and digital infrastructure where the collaboration between Cuerva and Alto Infrastructure is positioned.

Cuerva contributes more than 85 years of experience in energy infrastructure, electricity networks and complex electrical systems, across Spain and Latin America. Alto Infrastructure brings specialised expertise in the development and operation of next-generation data centers. Together, both companies are creating the conditions necessary for Andalusia to host digital infrastructure of international scale.

The SP01 data center is designed for high-density computing workloads dedicated to training and running advanced artificial intelligence models. Alto Infrastructure selected CITAI due to its combination of available land, favourable climatic conditions for efficient cooling, and a growing technological and industrial ecosystem — with more than 2,000 professionals and 35 operating companies — including strategic initiatives such as IFMIF-DONES and the expanding technology ecosystem linked to the University of Granada. The facility has been designed with closed-loop liquid cooling systems requiring close to zero water consumption and will be powered entirely by renewable energy.

The project, when fully built, will use to 100 MW of redundant electrical capacity, a large-scale energy demand that requires high stability and redundancy. A plan to expand power supply in the area has been designed: the existing Escúzar 132/66/20 kVsubstation will be expanded for the the data center's initial connection, followed by a new 220/132 kV substation that will provide connection to Red Eléctrica de España (REE). This will provide a second independent supply point for the redundancy this type of infrastructure requires.

The project will roll out in phases, with the first stage of power operational in June 2027 and additional capacity added through 2027–2028 as the remaining facilities are deployed.

“This is a defining moment for Alto Infrastructure and, we believe, for Granada and for Andalusia. We chose Escúzar and the CITAI site for a reason: this region combines a forward-looking municipal partner, a remarkable engineering and academic ecosystem anchored by the University of Granada, and a renewable-rich Andalusian grid that lets us build digital infrastructure the right way from day one. Cuerva's long-standing expertise and regional presence make them a strong partner for this project. We're proud to be building Andalusia's first large-scale AI data center here, with local partners, for a global digital economy.” — Gísli Kr. Katrinarson, Chief Executive Officer, Alto Infraestructure.

Cuerva´s strategic vision for the data center sector

For Cuerva, SP01 is a strategic step into one of the sectors that will most shape electricity demand and industrial development in the coming decades, as access to power and grid capacity becomes decisive in where future data centers can be built.

“The rise of artificial intelligence is transforming the relationship between energy and digital infrastructure. Data centers are becoming one of the major drivers of electricity demand, and that requires a new generation of energy infrastructure capable of supporting that growth.
At Cuerva, we believe companies with deep expertise in electrical systems will play a key role in making this transformation possible. We are extreamly happy to work with the Alto Infrastructure team with deep industry knowledge and experience from digital infrastructure development and operations on this milestone project.” — Ignacio Cuerva, Chief Executive Officer, Cuerva.

This shift creates a strategic opportunity for companies capable of integrating knowledge and expertise across the entire energy value chain and, in particular, critical infrastructure. Cuerva’s involvement in this project represents an important step in this positioning: actively contributing to the development of the energy infrastructure required to sustain the new digital economy.

The collaboration with Alto Infrastructure also reflects a long-term vision in which the energy transition and digitalisation are becoming increasingly interconnected, and where energy infrastructure becomes a strategic element for industrial competitiveness, technological development and regional growth.

This project reinforces Cuerva’s strategy to establish itself as a key player in critical energy infrastructure for initiatives that will shape the new digital economy, in line with its aim to be a leading figure in the 21st-century energy transition and the development of the region in which it operates.

— END —