Port Innovation: The Port of Ceuta hosts a Digital Data Processing Center

Project leader

The project is led by Avangreen with the close collaboration of the Port Authority of Ceuta.

Description of the project

The project, known as the Digital Data Processing Centre (Data Center), is located in the Poniente Quay of the Port of Ceuta.

With an extension of more than 2,400 square metres, this centre will not only store and manage large volumes of data, but will also operate with renewable energies, including more than 3,600 solar panels for self-consumption of energy that will generate 3% of the city’s installed power.

The Digital Centre will be located in Ceuta thanks to its strategic position and its connection to several submarine fibre optic cables along the African coast (its geographical location on the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar makes this service possible, which is so unusual for other data centres).

The port plays a crucial role in this project, housing the Data Centre which will be fundamental for the digitalisation and economic transformation of the city, as well as for improving Ceuta’s positioning as a strategic hub in the digital economy at a global level. This joint effort between the Port Authority and Avangreen, underlines the commitment to transform the port into a green, sustainable and digital port, aligned with the logistics and commercial development strategy of the port.

In addition, the installation of photovoltaic panels and the investment in green technologies such as a green hydrogen plant and a solar plant, which could generate up to 2.4 Megawatts of energy, are examples of how the port is moving towards sustainability. This would also complement the service offer of the port and the city.

The construction of the facility, in its first phase, will generate between 50 and 60 direct jobs and some 70 indirect jobs. Once operational, it is estimated that the centre could generate between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs, significantly increasing employment in the digital sector in the city. The Centre began to materialise with the laying of the foundation stone on 15 November 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2025. The cost of this first phase of construction amounts to €5 million (out of a total of €15 million to be dedicated to the full development of the Digital Centre).

Objectives of the project

The Data Centre aims to store and manage large volumes of data in a sustainable manner. This infrastructure will digitise and transform the economy of the city and the port of Ceuta.

This project is based on a mutually beneficial relationship between the city of Ceuta and the Port, creating synergies between the two.

The Data Centre is an attraction for innovation and investment, as it will attract investment and specialised companies, particularly in green technologies and sustainable mobility. It will also foster job creation in the digital sector and boost local economic growth through digitalisation, offering new opportunities for professional and business development in Ceuta.