Billions for Europe: CPP–Goodman joint venture to launch data centre investments by mid‑2026

A major international joint venture between Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and the Australian Goodman Group was announced on Tuesday, December 23, marking a landmark move in the European data centre sector. The partnership aims to meet the soaring demand for computing power and data storage, driven largely by rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services.

Under the agreement, the Goodman European Data Centre Development Partnership will initially invest around AUD 3.9 billion (roughly €2.6 billion) to develop new facilities in three key European markets: Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris. These projects, with a total capacity of about 435 MW of primary power and 282 MW IT load, are expected to begin construction by mid‑2026. (

The announcement had an immediate market impact: Goodman’s shares rose 6.7% on the Sydney Stock Exchange, partially offsetting this year’s losses.

The Global Data Centre Investment Landscape

The CPP Investments–Goodman move is part of a global surge in data centre investments, which has become a major focus of international capital. Recent reports indicate that sector deals and investments reached over $60 billion in 2025, with more than 100 major transactions completed by November, highlighting accelerating demand for digital infrastructure.

This growth is primarily driven by expansion from major tech companies, cloud providers, and hyperscalers seeking to secure additional computing capacity for AI applications, large language models, and high-performance data services.

Despite strong momentum, data centre development faces challenges, such as increasing pressure on power grids, the need for sustainable energy sources, and ensuring reliable supply, especially in densely populated, high-demand areas.

Significance for Europe and Tech Infrastructure

Europe remains a key region for data centre investments, though historically behind North America in total capital. The shift toward AI-ready infrastructure has already prompted multinationals to expand their data centre networks in key markets, while countries and businesses compete to attract these strategic investment

The CPP–Goodman joint venture reinforces this trend, positioning Europe as a competitive digital infrastructure hubfor the next decade.

Source: pagenews.gr