Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (renewable energy fund manager), Thylander (Danish private equity real estate firm), and PensionDanmark (fund) have launched construction of Dansk Data Center 1, a 11.5 MW colocation facility at the Port of Esbjerg that is being designed to function as an active participant in Denmark's broader energy infrastructure rather than a simple consumer of electricity.

A Danish-Owned Answer to Growing Digital Demand

The groundbreaking ceremony for Dansk Data Center 1, known as DDC1, took place on August 13, 2026, and was attended by Esbjerg Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen alongside key project stakeholders.

The facility is described by its developers as one of the first major data centers in Denmark to be wholly owned and operated by Danish companies, and is expected to be among the largest data centers in the country upon completion.

Ownership of DDC1 is shared between PensionDanmark, the Thylander Group, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners through its CI Microgrid Electrification Fund.

PensionDanmark is the lead investor in the project, while Thylander will be responsible for operations, maintenance, and asset management once the facility is commissioned. Construction is expected to conclude with commissioning in October 2027.

The project is framed by its backers as a response to rapidly growing demand for local data capacity, driven in particular by the expansion of artificial intelligence and digital services. Rune Gade Holm, Head of Private Markets at PensionDanmark, described access to data centers as a key competitive factor for Danish businesses and a prerequisite for realising AI growth.

He noted that PensionDanmark already invests in digital infrastructure globally, and said investing in domestic data capacity allows the fund to serve Danish companies while generating returns for its pension members.

Pilot Project for Future Danish Data Infrastructure

DDC1 is explicitly described by its developers as a pilot project intended to serve as a framework for how future Danish data centers are built and integrated into the energy system.

Anders Frich Mathiesen, CEO of Thylander Data Centers, said the ambition extends beyond building a single facility, with the project intended to set a new standard for how data centers are developed as part of society rather than apart from it.

The facility's location at the NATO port in Esbjerg was cited as a factor supporting both security of supply and robust digital infrastructure. Karsten Uhd Plauborg, Partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and CEO of Plexar, described Esbjerg as one of the most important industrial hubs in Denmark from an infrastructure perspective and called the port an ideal location for a project built on local collaboration.

Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen expressed support for the development, linking it to Esbjerg's existing identity as an energy hub and to the municipality's ambition to also establish itself as a digital hub. He said DDC1 demonstrates how digital infrastructure can be integrated with utilities and business development.

Grid Connection, Smart Energy Management, and Flexible Consumption

DDC1 is connected to the local power grid through grid operator N1, with a capacity of 11.5 MW. The facility is equipped with advanced energy management technology provided by Plexar, which is designed to continuously optimise electricity consumption and reduce load on the power grid.

The system allows electricity consumption to be adjusted in response to the current capacity of the grid, and smart storage is incorporated to support stable operation.

Anders Saaby, Chief Technology Officer at Plexar, said the goal is for the data center to operate as efficiently as possible and make maximum use of clean electricity, given that a large proportion of Denmark's electricity generation comes from renewable sources. He described the objective as ensuring the facility is not a burden on the grid but an active participant in a more balanced energy system.

Excess Heat Recovery and Closed-Loop Water Cooling

The developers have established a collaboration with local utility company DIN Forsyning to utilise the excess heat generated by DDC1 for district heating in the surrounding area. The arrangement is presented as one of the mechanisms through which the facility is intended to create local value rather than simply extract it.

The cooling system for DDC1 is designed as a closed, circular system in which water is reused in order to minimise water waste. These design choices reflect the project's stated focus on resource optimisation and local integration, and are central to the claim that DDC1 represents a new approach to data center development in Denmark.

The Organisations Behind the Project

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners was founded in 2012 and operates as a global fund manager and investor in energy infrastructure. The firm invests across power generation including solar and wind, energy storage, transmission and distribution, advanced bioenergy, and low-carbon fuels. The CI Microgrid Electrification Fund, through which CIP holds its stake in DDC1, is the specific vehicle used for this investment.

Plexar, whose CEO also serves as CIP's partner on the project, is responsible for the energy management systems being deployed at the facility. The Thylander Group, which co-owns the data center alongside CIP and PensionDanmark, will take on the operational responsibilities for the asset once it enters service.

DDC1 will operate as a multi-tenant colocation data center, meaning it will serve multiple clients rather than being dedicated to a single operator or organisation.

Denmark's Data Center Pipeline Is Moving Fast, Are You Keeping Up?

Every week, new data center developments are breaking ground, attracting investment, and reshaping the digital infrastructure landscape across Denmark. For developers, contractors, and technology suppliers, missing a single procurement window or contract announcement can mean losing ground to better-informed competitors who are already at the table.

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