Submer will invest more than 1,000 million in a new data center in Flix

BarcelonaCatalonia continues to expand its computing capacity to embrace the advancement of artificial intelligence. The company Submer Group, headquartered in Barcelona, will invest more than 1 billion euros to install a new data center in Flix (Ribera d'Ebre). The technological infrastructure will be located on the grounds of the former Ercros chemical plant. The center, as the company assured in a statement, will be "sustainable and state-of-the-art," and will dedicate its activity to driving investment in AI-based applications and services.

The infrastructure operator will be Rubix Data Centers, Submer's subsidiary dedicated to the development of data centers for AI. The center's activity, once fully operational, will create 150 highly qualified jobs in areas such as critical facilities engineering or security. It is expected to be operational by the end of 2027, although the full deployment will be carried out in two phases.

This was detailed by the company at the project presentation event, which took place this morning in Flix, and was attended by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and the Minister of Business and Labour, Miquel Sàmper. The event also included the presence of Submer co-founder Pol Valls and Ercros president Anton Valero.

AI "responsible"

From Submer they assure that the project will be "well positioned to meet the exponential requirements of sovereign artificial intelligence infrastructure in Europe", all of this reinforcing the capabilities of the Catalan digital economy. With the new center, the company will provide the physical infrastructure that data centers need to operate: space, cooling, and access to energy.

For this industrial capacity, as Valls has detailed, the capabilities of Flix have been essential, in full reindustrialization of the old Ercros plant. In his speech at the conference, the co-founder highlighted Submer's ability to provide "infrastructure for the digital world built more efficiently and responsibly". "This project demonstrates that industrial progress and responsibility can advance together," he argued. In fact, as the company highlighted, the center has been designed with high energy efficiency cooling technology, which will allow operations to be carried out without water consumption.

Synergies with Móra la Nova

For his part, Illa has highlighted the attractiveness of the Ribera d'Ebre region, due to the availability of industrial land and the abundant "business culture" that is concentrated in the area. In fact, he has foreseen that the reindustrialization of the complex will continue. "We haven't finished here, there is much more space. And, when things go well, everyone wants to join in," he indicated.

The Submer project in Flix has been announced in the midst of the contest for the artificial intelligence gigafactory that Catalan and Spanish institutions are hoping for land in Móra la Nova, in the same Ribera d'Ebre. The president has shown himself optimistic about the outcome of the European tender, which will be resolved in the coming months. In this regard, he has highlighted the complementarity of both facilities. "They are two different, very important projects, which will place Ribera d'Ebre in a strategic position in the advancement of new technologies," he stated.

In a statement, Submer Group CEO Patrick Smets defended Flix's "industrial legacy" as a key draw for attracting the infrastructure. The company expects the new center to "contribute to Spain's positioning as a benchmark in AI infrastructure development." For his part, Rubix Data Centers CEO John Eland recalled that the subsidiary will not only build the center but will also be responsible for operating it. "It's not just about developing the project and leaving. Our commitment to Flix is long-term," the executive assured.