Microsoft (microsoft.com) will invest $500 million in a new European data center to be based in Dublin, Ireland. The largely self-automated center will deliver Windows Live services and will store data for the company's online services businesses such as Window Live and MSN.

Located in Grange Castle Business Park in Dublin, the facility will span over 51,000 square meters and will be completed by summer 2009. Microsoft said the data center will house tens of thousands of servers, and credits the help of the Irish government and its development agencies.

Microsoft employs over 1,200 people full time in Ireland. Since the new center is self-automated, it will add about 20 jobs. The facility is expected to be up to 50 percent more efficient than similarly sized facilities of comparable scale.