The European Commission aims to triple the region's data center capacity within five to seven years. The initiative seeks to increase total power capacity from approximately 12 GW to over 27 GW, requiring an estimated €200 billion in investment, primarily from the private sector.
The strategy is supported by the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act and the AI Continent Action Plan. Officials intend to reduce reliance on non-EU cloud providers, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, to improve industrial competitiveness and data privacy.
Data centers currently consume about 68 TWh of electricity annually, with projections reaching 114 TWh by 2030. In 2024, these facilities accounted for 2% to 2.5% of the total electricity consumption in the EU.
A proposal introduced on September 21, 2026, suggests a transparency rating system for facilities exceeding 500 kW. This framework would assess energy efficiency, clean energy use, and waste heat recovery, though performance benchmarks remain under discussion.
Expansion faces significant hurdles, including public opposition in Ireland, France, and the Netherlands regarding resource consumption and environmental impact. Additionally, grid connection delays in countries like Germany, the UK, and France continue to stall infrastructure projects.
