Europe closed 2025 with an increasingly clear picture: demand for computing (driven by cloud and, above all, Artificial Intelligence) is no longer measured solely in racks but in megawatts, permits, and access to the electric grid. The announcements and projects that gained prominence in December reinforce a trend across the continent: large campuses are multiplying, international alliances are becoming the norm, and regulatory energy decisions are starting to set the pace for everything else.
One of the most symbolic moves came from Ireland. The country, which became a European hub for digital infrastructure over the past decade, has experienced a de facto tightening for new data center connections in the Dublin area in recent years, precisely due to network pressure. The resolution of this situation — interpreted by the sector as a return to “regulatory clarity” — gave new breathing room to a market that had been operating with a brake for months. Simultaneously, Amazon Web Services (AWS) received approval to build three data centers in Dublin with a combined load of 73 MW, a figure illustrating the scale of the commitment and, at the same time, the reasons for tensions: each new project competes for an increasingly strategic resource.
The United Kingdom also made headlines, though from a more financial and industrial perspective. Goodman Group and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) agreed to create a European data center partnership valued at €7.899 billion. The joint venture plans to develop four projects in key markets such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris, reinforcing a recurring sector theme: in an environment of rising costs and requirements, investment capacity and the ability to scale are just as important as land or connectivity.
In England, expansion has manifested in urban planning. Northumberland County Council unanimously approved the first phase of a new QTS Data Centers project, designed as a large campus with 10 data halls. Such developments outside traditional city centers indicate another clear trend: seeking locations with better energy conditions, more room to grow, and less urban friction than major capitals, without sacrificing competitive network connectivity.
The northern European geography continued to see new announcements. In Norway, Magnora ASA announced a new data center in Kristiansund with 100 MW, reflecting the appeal of Nordic countries due to their energy availability and sustainability image. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Pure Data Centres Group signed what it described as the largest independent lease for an hyperscale campus in Europe: a 78 MW facility in Westpoort, Amsterdam, linked to an investment exceeding €1 billion. Ultimately, the operation encapsulates the moment: while capacity is being built, it is also being “pre-sold” at scale, as markets seek to secure power and spaces before permitting and supply queues grow even longer.
In the continent’s economic heart, Frankfurt reasserted its role as an unavoidable hub. Digital Realty announced the FRA20 data center, with around 16 MW of IT capacity across more than 8,100 m², planned for two phases. Frankfurt’s continued project influx isn’t accidental: it concentrates interconnection, businesses, traffic, and an ecosystem that enables operators and clients to deploy quickly when time-to-market is crucial.
However, one country truly exemplified the scale of this wave: Spain. NOSTRUM Data Centers chose AECOM to oversee the design and construction of Nostrum Evergreen, a project exceeding €1.9 billion with an expected capacity of up to 500 MW. Its size places it among Europe’s major campuses focused on intensive workloads, particularly those related to Artificial Intelligence.
The Madrid region also saw movement: Quetta Data Centers, a platform created by Azora in partnership with Core Tech Capital, broke ground on its data center in Tres Cantos with 20 MW of capacity. Meanwhile, in Valencia, InfraRed Capital Partners took a majority stake in NXN Datacenters; alongside minority investor Adequita Capital, it will support the development of NxN’s first facility, with 5 MW, highlighting how capital is seeking local platforms with scaling potential.
Adding to the list is a significant corporate move: Templus announced an agreement to acquire nine data centers from AtlasEdge located in Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Zurich, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Leeds, and Copenhagen. Pending regulatory approvals, this deal reveals a clear strategy: to grow through acquisitions, quickly establishing a pan-European footprint in markets where building new data centers could take years.
The “energy factor” reappeared in other Spanish announcements, which, despite their schedules and phases, underscore the country’s ambitions. MERLIN Properties plans to invest €2 billion in two large data centers in Navalmoral de la Mata, each with 100 MW. Forestalia, for its part, announced approval from the Aragón Government to develop three campuses in Botorrita, Alfamén, and Magallón, with an investment exceeding €12 billion. And in Huelva, Asturias-based TSK Electrónica y Electricidad was selected by GO ENERGY GROUP to develop TRON, a green Artificial Intelligence data campus with hyperscale infrastructure aiming for 200 MW.
If only the publicly announced projects from December, with disclosed power capacities — excluding future expansions and undeclared MW — are considered, the total far exceeds 1,000 MW. In terms of investment, the figures announced in several of these movements surpass €24 billion. These magnitudes help explain why the debate is no longer just about “where to build,” but also about “how to power” this new digital infrastructure: available electrical capacity, administrative speed, and social acceptance have become as critical variables as fiber connectivity or latency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for a data center to have a planned capacity of 500 MW?
It indicates a project designed to scale to massive levels of electrical power dedicated to IT and critical infrastructure, capable of hosting large cloud workloads and AI tasks, typically through phased development.
Why had Dublin effectively limited new data center connections?
Due to the pressure on the metropolitan area’s electrical grid and the need to manage demand from large energy consumers; regulatory changes seek to provide certainty on when and how new connections are allowed.
What is the difference between a hyperscale campus and a “traditional” data center?
A hyperscale campus is typically designed for large-scale clients (hyperscalers or cloud platforms) and to grow modularly, with very high capacities and industrialized deployments. A “traditional” center may be smaller and oriented towards colocation or enterprise clients.
Why is Spain increasingly appearing on the European data center map?
Due to a combination of new investments, land availability in certain areas, projects tied to renewable energy, and interest in expanding capacity near major connectivity nodes, along with demand driven by Artificial Intelligence.