Europe began 2026 with a noticeable trend in the digital infrastructure sector: the race for data centers is no longer just about “more square meters,” but about secured energy, construction timelines, and AI-ready capacity. The announcements and projects accumulated during January paint a clear picture: Spain is increasingly central to the narrative (hyperscale, edge, and colocation), Finland is establishing itself as a major campus destination, and the UK is exploring the repurposing of industrial land to absorb demand without creating new urban scars.
The common denominator in many headlines remains the same: time and electricity. Companies are seeking shortcuts to deploy quickly (acquisitions, building conversions, power agreements), while regions compete to attract investment by promising land and grid connections.
The Iberian Peninsula in “hub” mode: acquisitions, hyperscale, and edge
In Portugal and Spain, January was packed with transactions with immediate impact. Templus announced the acquisition of three data centers from Grupo Aire in Lisbon, Madrid, and Valencia/Paterna, adding 6.5 MW of installed capacity and strengthening its regional position. Simultaneously, the same company took another symbolic step: the start of construction for the first data center in Ceuta, a Tier III project that begins with 1.2 MW, expandable to 2.4 MW, in a building of 2,500 m² with 800 m² of IT room.
The hyperscale push also made headlines: Box2Bit unveiled the Epilon project in Épila (Zaragoza) with an announced total investment of 3.9 billion euros. Its phased deployment starts with 1.125 billion euros, over 33 hectares expandable to 100, with initial 150 MW and a planned scale-up to 520 MW.
This snapshot is complemented by NOSTRUM Data Centers‘s plan (advised by JLL) to develop six campuses in Spain with a combined capacity of up to 800 MW, located in places such as Badajoz, Cáceres, Guadalajara, Pinto, Zamudio, and Galicia. The plan follows an increasingly common pattern: projects with “lined-up” land and capacity, ready for execution as permits are obtained and demand materializes.
In Aragón, another notable announcement came from Amazon Web Services (AWS): an investment of close to 5 billion euros for a data center in La Puebla de Híjar (Teruel), with 100 MW guaranteed and a focus on AI-linked loads. In Andalusia, the Sierra DC project in Escúzar (Granada) highlighted the “AI and energy” pairing once again: a 1 billion euro proposal for 100 MW on a plot of over 100,000 m², amid local discussions about electrical availability as a backdrop.
Meanwhile, Barcelona added another “enterprise” data center announcement beyond hyperscale: Adam advanced its new facility in the Parc de l’Alba (Cerdanyola del Vallès), with 8 MW and scheduled to go into service in 2027, targeting corporate colocation and aiming for Tier III certification.
And while hyperscale grabs headlines, edge has become the quiet contender. Telefónica confirmed plans to convert around 100 power plants into mini data centers, with 17 nodes expected by 2026 (and a dozen already operational). By late February, the telco took another step by beginning to commercialize edge services, reinforcing the idea that, for many companies, latency and data sovereignty are becoming as valuable as rack costs.
France and the “Sovereign” approach: BXIA in Bordeaux
Outside the Iberian Peninsula, France made a clear statement in January: the BXIA campus in Bordeaux, driven by Osae Partners and NFU, comprising five buildings over approximately 20 hectares. The project operates on a large scale: 250 MW IT, 380 MW of available power, and a cited construction cost of 3 billion euros. In the French narrative, the project aligns with the idea of infrastructure for “sovereign AI,” a term that has become recurrent in continental industrial plans.
Finland, the northern magnet: and in February, the bet increased further
Finland didn’t fall behind. In January, DayOne announced initial plans for a campus in Klaukkala (Nurmijärvi) with up to 560 MW phased deployment. Additionally, Bitzero, supported by commercial partners, revealed capacity for AI in Kokemäki (Finland) and Namsskogan (Norway), with 200 MW initially in the Finnish site and an expected to-be-in-service date in 2027.
However, the month that elevated the discussion was February 2026, with two moves significantly raising the stakes:
- Google purchased approximately 900 hectares in Vaala (Finland) for future data center development, near a Fingrid substation, signaling that the north is consolidating as a strategic reserve of land and energy.
- Equinix and CPP Investments agreed to acquire atNorth for around $4 billion in enterprise value, with an estimated $4.2 billion in financing. atNorth offers pan-Nordic presence and a portfolio with secured capacity to continue scaling—an increasingly influential factor in Europe.
UK: converting industrial land to “buy time”
In the UK, January showcased two examples of the “new urbanism” in data centers. AWS progressed its proposal in Didcot (Oxfordshire), with a campus including four main buildings and support structures, awaiting planning decisions. Meanwhile, Carbon3.ai proposed converting the old chemical complex Octel in Amlwch Port (Anglesey, Wales) into an AI-focused data center, repurposing a 61-acre site (about 24.7 hectares).
Summary table of announcements and projects (January and February 2026 extras)
| Month | Country | Actor | Project / Operation | Capacity (IT / grid) | Investment / Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Spain / Portugal | Templus | Purchase of 3 DCs from Grupo Aire (Lisbon, Madrid, Valencia/Paterna) | +6.5 MW | n/d |
| Jan | France | Osae Partners / NFU | BXIA Campus (Bordeaux, 5 buildings, ~20 ha) | 250 MW IT / 380 MW available | €3,000 million |
| Jan | Spain | Box2Bit | Epilon (Épila, Zaragoza) | 150 MW → 520 MW | €3.9 billion (€1.125 billion initial phase) |
| Jan | Spain | Telefónica | Mini data center network in plants (17 nodes in 2026) | n/d (edge nodes) | n/d |
| Jan | Spain | Nostrum / JLL | 6 campuses (up to 800 MW) | Up to 800 MW | n/d |
| Jan | Spain | AWS | La Puebla de Híjar (Teruel) | 100 MW | ~€5 billion |
| Jan | Spain | Templus | Ceuta first Tier III DC | 1.2 MW → 2.4 MW | n/d |
| Jan | Spain | Sierra DC | Escúzar (Granada), AI | 100 MW | €1 billion |
| Jan | Spain | Adam | Pare de l’Alba (Barcelona), colocation | 8 MW | n/d |
| Jan | UK | GTR | European expansion financing (KKR + Oak Hill) | n/d | ~$1.5 billion + ~$400 million |
| Jan | Finland | DayOne | Klaukkala (Nurmijärvi) | up to 560 MW | n/d |
| Jan | Finland / Norway | Bitzero | Kokemäki + Namsskogan (AI) | 200 MW initial (Finland) | n/d |
| Jan | UK | AWS | Didcot (Oxfordshire) | n/d | n/d |
| Jan | UK | Carbon3.ai | Amlwch Port (Anglesey), reconversion of Octel | n/d | n/d |
| Feb | Finland | Purchase of ~900 ha in Vaala | n/d | n/d | |
| Feb | Nordics | Equinix / CPP | acquisition of atNorth | Pipeline and secured capacity | €4 billion (EV) / €4.2 billion financing |
| Feb | Spain | Telefónica | Edge service commercialization | n/d | n/d |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are so many data center projects in Spain being announced in 2026?
Because demand for AI and cloud computing is growing, and Spain combines connectivity, land availability in specific hubs, and a market looking to relieve Madrid by establishing new locations.
What’s the difference between a hyperscale campus and a network of small edge data centers?
A hyperscale concentrates large capacity in one point for massive loads. Edge distributes small nodes close to users to reduce latency and improve data control.
Why does Finland attract campuses of hundreds of MW and such large land purchases?
Due to its access to competitive energy prices, favorable climate for cooling, and an industrial policy that is attracting global operators’ interest.
What does it mean for a project to have “power secured” or a “power bank”?
It indicates the developer already has agreements or reserved electric connections. In 2026, this can be more valuable than the land itself because it accelerates timelines and reduces uncertainty.