The Portuguese country could add up to €26 billion to its GDP thanks to the development of digital infrastructure and energy sustainability.
Portugal is emerging as one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for advanced digital infrastructure development, driven by increasing demand for data centers and accelerated by artificial intelligence (AI). A recent study by Copenhagen Economics projects that the sector could contribute up to €26 billion to the national gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 and create approximately 50,000 full-time jobs annually.
At the core of this expansion is Start Campus with its ambitious SINES DC project, considered one of the largest private investments in technological infrastructure in the country. With a secured electrical capacity of 1.2 gigawatts and the first building — SIN01 — already operational, the Sines campus is poised to become a key driver of Portugal’s digital economy.
Start Campus’s approach combines scalability, energy efficiency, and sustainability, utilizing renewable energy and an innovative cooling system that leverages the proximity to the sea to reduce costs and minimize freshwater consumption. This solution aligns with environmental sustainability goals common in major data centers of the 21st century.
Natural and technological competitive advantages include Portugal’s strategic location and moderate climate. Its power grid is fueled by 87.5% renewable sources, and the cost of electricity is about 30% below the European average, providing a key advantage for energy-intensive operations like data centers.
Additionally, the country has 92% fiber optic coverage, ranking third in the EU for network quality. Globally, 25% of the world’s submarine cables pass through Portuguese waters, making the country a crucial hub for intercontinental digital traffic.
These factors make Portugal an ideal environment for services requiring low latency, such as cloud computing, big data analysis, and AI applications.
From 2022 to 2024, data center sectors generated €311 million for the GDP and supported around 1,700 jobs annually. However, the true potential lies ahead: maintaining current growth could position Portugal as a European leader in digital infrastructure, provided public policies remain aligned.
Key measures identified in the report include ensuring predictable access to power grids and critical components, streamlining licensing processes for technological and energy infrastructure, and promoting AI adoption across public and private sectors. These actions are essential in a context of intense international competition for digital infrastructure investments.
By the end of the decade, approximately 70% of global computing capacity is expected to be dedicated to AI-related workloads. This demands modern, scalable, and energy-efficient data centers—precisely what Portugal is developing.
Start Campus’s SINES DC project exemplifies this model: large campuses connected to green energy networks, with redundancy, international connectivity, and a clear focus on efficiency and technological innovation.
Portugal has found digital infrastructure to be a strategic vector for economic growth, merging energy sovereignty, local talent, and technological vision. If it stays on course, the country could become one of Europe’s most significant digital hubs in the next decade.