QTS and Amprion Advance Grid Connection Plans for Hamm Data Center Campus in Germany

Under the construction agreement signed by QTS and transmission system operator Amprion, QTS and its parent company Blackstone will finance the substation infrastructure and grid upgrades needed to connect the proposed data center campus to the transmission grid.

QTS Commits to Funding Campus Infrastructure Upgrades

QTS, described as a global data center leader and a Blackstone portfolio company, is planning to develop and operate the campus in the Westfalen industrial park near Hamm and Lippetal on an area of approximately 27 hectares.

"This agreement is an important milestone for the proposed Lippetal campus," says Florian Hoyndorf, Senior Director of International Pre-Development at QTS.

"QTS is committed to funding the infrastructure upgrades required for our projects and to working closely with Amprion and local partners as plans progress."

The announcement was made by Amprion on 27 October 2026. Subject to the necessary approvals and project requirements, the development would represent a multi-billion euro digital infrastructure investment in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Connection via Uentrop Substation

The agreement covers the grid infrastructure required to link the planned campus site to the transmission grid via the Uentrop substation. By advancing this infrastructure, Amprion is laying the foundation for the significant investment and, according to the company, strengthening North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location.

Dr. Christoph Müller, CEO of Amprion GmbH, framed the agreement in the context of the wider energy system. "High-performance transmission grids are a key prerequisite for our country's digital transformation," he says.

"Investments in data centers, industry, and other emerging technologies cannot be realized without a strong and reliable electricity grid."

He added, "As a transmission system operator, our role is to provide robust infrastructure. Projects like this enable investment in the digital economy and create the conditions for future growth."

Why Data Centers Depend on the Grid

Amprion describes data centers as the backbone of today's digital economy, underpinning services used every day such as cloud computing, online banking, video streaming, and digital public services.

The company also notes their role in enabling hospitals, researchers, and businesses to process large volumes of data, supporting medical advances, scientific research, and new technologies. These facilities, however, require a secure and high-capacity electricity supply.

According to Amprion, transmission grids transport electricity over long distances, integrate renewable energy into the energy system, and provide the foundation for reliably supplying large consumers such as data centers.

Converter Station Planned for the Hamm Area

The Hamm region, according to Amprion, offers favourable conditions for energy-intensive future technologies and industries.

Among its projects in the area, Amprion is planning a converter station as the southern endpoint of the Corridor B underground cable project, a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link designed to transport wind-generated electricity from the Wilhelmshaven region to Westphalia.

At the Hamm converter station, the direct current will be converted into alternating current and fed into the regional grid via the Lippborg substation, making the renewable electricity available to the region and, in the future, to the planned data center campus.

The announcement did not provide further details on the project timeline or approvals. Dr. Matthias Machinek, Amprion's project spokesperson, is available for media inquiries regarding the agreement.