Start Campus Achieves OCP Ready™ v2 Certification: Pioneering Hyperscale Data Centers in Southern Europe

Introduction 

As the Head of Design & Delivery at Start Campus, I am thrilled to announce that our SINES Data Center facilities, SIN01 and SIN02, have achieved the OCP Ready™ v2 certification. Located in Lisbon, Portugal, these data centers are the first in Southern Europe, and only the third and fourth in Europe, to earn this distinguished certification. This achievement highlights our commitment to open standards, sustainability, and state-of-the-art digital infrastructure. 

Setting a New Benchmark in Southern Europe 

The OCP Ready™ certification, granted by the Open Compute Project Foundation, certifies that our SIN01 and SIN02 facilities meet the highest standards for hyperscale data centers and AI/HPC workloads. This certification not only provides a competitive advantage but also guarantees faster deployments, reduced total ownership costs, and seamless integration with advanced technologies. Our facilities, designed with openness, modularity, and interoperability, set new standards in energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. 

Rigorous Assessment and Industry Leadership 

Achieving this certification requires a rigorous assessment of critical factors such as logistics, site access, security, and network connectivity. This comprehensive evaluation ensures that our data centers are optimized for hyperscale demands and future-proofed for the constantly evolving digital landscape. As Rob Dunn, our CEO, aptly put it, "This achievement is not just a milestone for Start Campus, but a win for hyperscale, cloud, and AI/HPC-driven companies looking to secure their future in Europe." 

Innovative Infrastructure and Sustainability 

Situated on Europe’s southwestern edge, the SINES Data Center is one of the continent’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. With SIN01 operational since Q4'24 and the upcoming SIN02, we are significantly contributing to our 1.2 GW SINES Data Campus. These facilities, powered by 100% renewable energy and featuring an innovative seawater cooling system, achieve industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) metrics, underscoring our commitment to environmental responsibility. 

Global Standards, Local Implementation 

This certification was co-led by OCP Foundation team members Mark Dansie and Raúl Àlvarez. Dansie emphasized, “The certification of Start Campus’ SIN01 and SIN02 facilities as OCP Ready™ for Hyperscale is a pivotal moment for the European data center landscape.” Àlvarez added, “Start Campus’s OCP Ready™ v2 certification highlights its alignment with the OCP Community’s vision of interoperable, efficient, and scalable data center environments.” 

Conclusion 

This significant achievement follows the successful inauguration of SIN01 and marks a new era for data centers in Europe. As we continue to push the boundaries of digital infrastructure, our commitment to sustainability and innovation serves as a benchmark for future developments in the industry. At Start Campus, we remain dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the needs of today and anticipate the demands of tomorrow. 

Written by Alberto Petermann

Alberto Petermann, Head of Design and Delivery, joined Start Campus in 2022 as Senior Program Manager. With a background in Industrial Engineering, Alberto has, since 2009, worked across the five continents with end users and developers on mission critical projects and throughout the whole life cycle of data centers. Alberto is certified AOS and ATD by Uptime Institute.