The Google St Ghislain, Belgium Data Center, situated at Rue des Roseaux, 7331 Saint-Ghislain, Belgium, is a substantial facility spanning 900,000 square feet. While the gross colocation space and power information for this data center are not publicly available, it is noteworthy that 24 other data center locations are identified within a 50-mile radius. This facility is highly certified, holding certifications such as PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 90001, SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3, underscoring its commitment to security, quality, and operational excellence.
Google has significantly invested in its St. Ghislain, Belgium data center campus, with a total investment approaching €3 billion. The initial €250 million investment in 2007 established the first Google data center globally to operate without refrigeration, utilizing an advanced evaporative cooling system with grey water from a nearby industrial canal for enhanced efficiency and reduced energy consumption. Subsequent expansions include an additional €300 million in 2013 for a second phase, completed in 2015, and a €250 million expansion in February 2018, which coincided with the unveiling of a new solar plant funded by a €3 million investment. Further growth occurred with a €600 million investment in June 2019 for a fourth data center, and in November 2021, Google committed over €500 million to expand the existing site, marking the fifth data center on the campus. Additionally, land was acquired in Ecopôle near Charleroi for a potential future data center, underscoring Google’s ongoing commitment to the region and its local community.