HOCHTIEF Launches Inaugural YEXIO Data Center in Heiligenhaus
Heiligenhaus, North Rhine-Westphalia – The city of Heiligenhaus is stepping into the spotlight as a digital pioneer with the inauguration of Germany’s first YEXIO edge data center. Officially commissioned today, the facility represents a major step forward in the creation of a nationwide network of 15 decentralized edge data centers, designed to bring cutting-edge digital infrastructure closer to businesses, communities, and public institutions across the country.
The project is the result of a collaboration between HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions GmbH and Palladio Partners, both of which share a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and long-term value creation. Together, they have delivered a facility that not only strengthens the digital backbone of the Düsseldorf–Essen–Wuppertal metropolitan region but also sets new benchmarks for environmental responsibility in data infrastructure.
A Hub for Future-Oriented Digital Services
The newly opened YEXIO data center is more than just a technical facility; it has been conceived as a central hub for next-generation digital services. Its primary user, Yorizon, will leverage the center to provide sustainable cloud computing solutions and green IT services to a wide range of stakeholders. Target groups include software developers, platform providers, medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, and even public-sector organizations.
With the rapid rise of Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI), demand for reliable, low-latency, and sustainable computing infrastructure has grown exponentially. The Heiligenhaus facility is positioned to directly address these needs by offering secure, sovereign, and locally managed data services.
Strengthening Regional Competitiveness
One of the most significant advantages of the new YEXIO data center lies in its proximity to local businesses and institutions. By keeping data processing and storage close to end-users, companies benefit from reduced transfer times, improved performance, and stronger data sovereignty.
This capability is particularly crucial in today’s geopolitically uncertain climate, where digital independence and data security are strategic assets. Localized data handling also supports industries with high sensitivity to latency and security, such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and finance.
According to Bernd Holtwick, Managing Director of HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions GmbH, the initiative is central to Germany’s competitiveness:
“With YEXIO, we bring digital capability to where it is needed – directly into the regions. This strengthens competitiveness, ensures data sovereignty, and is sustainable.”
A Sustainable Landmark in Heiligenhaus
The data center is located on a 9,000-square-meter site in the Heiligenhaus Innovation Park and represents a showcase of sustainable construction and operations. HOCHTIEF opted for mass-timber construction methods, which reduced the facility’s carbon footprint by an estimated 600 tonnes compared with conventional steel and concrete techniques.
Other sustainability features include:
- Green façade architecture, which enhances biodiversity and integrates the facility into its natural surroundings.
- Innovative water-based cooling systems, ensuring optimal energy efficiency during operations.
- Heat recovery technology, whereby the waste heat from the data center is redirected to supply the municipal swimming pool in Heiligenhaus, creating a practical example of sector coupling and intelligent resource use.
Mayor Michael Beck highlighted the importance of this achievement for the city:
“Commissioning the YEXIO data center is a significant step for our innovation park and the entire city. It underlines our commitment to combining technological progress with sustainability. The location offers companies that value close-to-site and secure data processing an attractive infrastructure and therefore strengthens our position in regional competition.”
Responding to Soaring Global Demand
The Heiligenhaus facility is being launched against the backdrop of booming global demand for data center capacity. Experts project the worldwide market for data center investments to expand by nearly 20% per year through 2030. In particular, edge data centers – smaller, decentralized facilities positioned closer to end users – are expected to experience extraordinary growth.
Market research by IMARC Group forecasts the edge data center sector to grow from USD 13 billion in 2024 to nearly USD 48 billion by 2033, representing an average annual growth rate of 15.6%. Germany, as Europe’s largest economy, is expected to play a central role in this expansion.
HOCHTIEF and Palladio Partners aim to seize this momentum by rolling out a network of 15 YEXIO data centers across Germany. Five locations – including Heiligenhaus – are already under development or secured.
Partnership and Investment Strategy
The YEXIO initiative is being driven by a consortium in which HOCHTIEF brings its expertise in planning, construction, operations, and asset management, while Palladio Partners contributes capital structuring expertise, investment strategy, and local network partnerships.
In addition, the data centers will be jointly operated by HOCHTIEF and Thomas-Krenn.AG, a specialist in server and IT infrastructure solutions. Palladio Partners, known for managing long-term institutional capital, is actively aligning the YEXIO rollout with pension-fund investments in digital infrastructure.
Dr. Bernd Kreuter, Managing Partner at Palladio Partners, emphasized the importance of the project:
“The YEXIO data center is a prime example of how, together with investors and a strong partner such as HOCHTIEF, we are actively shaping the modernization of critical infrastructure and setting sustainable standards.”
HOCHTIEF’s Growing Role in Global Data Infrastructure
HOCHTIEF identified the significance of the data center market early on and has built a strong global reputation in this field. The Group has already delivered projects amounting to around 6 gigawatts of IT capacity and maintains one of the industry’s strongest order books.
This track record positions HOCHTIEF as a leading global provider of sustainable data infrastructure solutions, capable of meeting the rising demands of both established markets and emerging digital economies.
