Guide for local authorities on data centre relocations published
Brandenburg has a good chance of becoming a new digital centre in Germany thanks to billions of euros invested in new data centres. With Schwarz Digits, Amazon Web Services and other major data centre projects, Brandenburg has attracted well-known companies to settle in the state. For many local authorities, the establishment of large data centre projects is a new topic and is associated with challenges. In order to support them in setting up new data centres, the Brandenburg Economic Development Corporation (WFBB) has produced a guide for local authorities on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Climate Protection and Europe.
Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy, Climate Protection and Europe Martina Klement explained: "Data centres are a central building block for the digital economy and an important part of modern value creation. They ensure a high level of investment in Brandenburg, strengthen our companies with modern infrastructure for cloud, AI and data analytics and at the same time ensure that Germany becomes more digitally sovereign. Brandenburg grows as a location for innovation and digital services with every new company that settles here – benefiting industry, trade, public administration and ultimately the entire region. The guidelines published today support local authorities in optimally preparing and implementing the establishment of local data centres."
Digital Minister Dr Benjamin Grimm emphasised: "Data centres are the infrastructure of the future – they form the digital backbone for artificial intelligence, cloud applications, the entire industry and modern administration. Brandenburg is currently developing into a leading digital centre in Germany with investments worth billions. These investments not only strengthen innovation and value creation in the state, but also make an important contribution to Germany's digital sovereignty. The new guidelines will support our local authorities in shaping this future infrastructure sustainably, strategically and in the interests of the local regions."
"The establishment of data centres is associated with many issues for the municipalities involved – from securing land, land-use planning and energy availability to securing business tax revenues and using waste heat for the municipal heat supply, the guide provides municipalities with a structured overview of the necessary steps so that they can make the best possible use of their municipal scope for action in the process of establishing data centres," emphasised WFBB Managing Director Dr Steffen Kammradt. Steffen Kammradt.
An accompanying website at wfbb.de will continuously supplement the guide with FAQs. The federal government's data centre strategy published on 18 March 2026 will also be accompanied in its further concrete form and updated in the FAQs.
To the guide
The guide can be found at
Guide for local authorities on the establishment of data centres in Brandenburg