Share

Stay up to date on the latest market insights through our free newsletter

Select your company type:

Select a type of user first

Corporate Energy Producer

Enter your company email:

Input your professional email

Stay up to date

You're now registered to receive newsletter updates

News

The demand for data is insatiable. In 2024, European data centers were estimated to consume around 96 Terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, representing about 3% of the region's total electricity demand. Projections show this figure could nearly triple by 2035, driven by the exponential growth of artificial intelligence and other data-intensive technologies. Several major projects are currently underway or recently announced, highlighting the scale of this expansion

The New Digital Hubs: A Look at Major Projects

Across Europe, from the Nordics to the Iberian Peninsula, large corporations are investing heavily in new data center campuses. Here are some of the most significant recent projects:

• Brookfield's AI Hub in Sweden: Investment firm Brookfield is developing a massive 750 MW AI data center in Stockholm. This ambitious project underscores the growing demand for specialized infrastructure to support artificial intelligence applications.
• Start Campus's Giga-Project in Portugal: In Sines, Portugal, Start Campus is building a 1.2 GW data center campus, making it one of the largest in Europe. The project is being developed in phases, with the first building being inaugurated in April 2025. The construction of the second building began in June 2025.
• Apto's Italian Powerhouse: Near Milan, Italy, Apto is developing a 300 MW data center campus, a significant investment in the country's digital infrastructure.
• Spanish Expansion in Aragon: The region of Aragon in Spain is quickly becoming a data center hotspot. Azora, through its subsidiary Tillion, is developing a 300 MW data center in Zaragoza. This project is part of a broader trend that has seen other major players like Microsoft also invest in the region.
• TikTok's Finnish Outpost: As part of its "Project Clover" initiative to store European user data locally, TikTok is investing €1 billion in a new data center in Kouvola, Finland, being developed by Hyperco. The exact power capacity has not been officially disclosed.

The Energy Equation: A Stark Comparison

To understand the immense energy requirements of these facilities, it's crucial to compare their projected annual energy consumption with the total electricity consumption of the countries they are in. For this comparison, we will assume a high but realistic load factor of 80% for these hyperscale data centers, meaning they operate at 80% of their maximum power capacity on average throughout the year.

Here's how these data center projects stack up against their host countries' 2024 electricity consumption:

These figures, particularly for the Start Campus project in Portugal, are striking. A single data center campus consuming a double-digit percentage of a nation's electricity highlights the immense strain these facilities can place on energy grids.

The Path Forward: Sustainability and Responsibility

The staggering energy consumption of these new data centers raises critical questions about sustainability and the broader impact on national energy resources. While these projects bring economic benefits and are essential for the digital economy, their development must be coupled with robust strategies for energy efficiency and the procurement of renewable energy.

Many of the companies behind these projects are publicly committed to powering their operations with renewable energy. The Start Campus project in Portugal, for instance, aims to use 100% renewable energy. Similarly, the Azora/Tillion data center in Spain will be powered entirely by renewable sources.

However, the sheer scale of this new energy demand will require a massive build-out of renewable energy generation. It also necessitates a focus on innovative cooling technologies and other energy-saving measures within the data centers themselves to mitigate their environmental impact.

As Europe continues its digital journey, the symbiosis between the tech industry and the energy sector will become increasingly critical. The development of these colossal data centers is a testament to our growing reliance on digital infrastructure, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the energy costs associated with our data-driven world. Ensuring that this digital growth is sustainable is a challenge that will require collaboration, innovation, and a long-term commitment to a green energy future.