Originally posted on Start Campus.
In Cushman & Wakefield’s recent EMEA Data Centre Market Update (H1 2025), a quiet but powerful shift took centre stage: Lisbon has been elevated to the ranks of “Established” Data Centre Markets in Europe. You can download the full report directly from Cushman & Wakefield here: EMEA Data Centre Market Update H1 2025.
While that recognition may seem like a simple reclassification, it signals something far more transformative: the emergence of a new gravitational centre for AI-era infrastructure – one built not on the legacy of the past, but on the opportunity of the future.
The AI Surge Is Reshaping the Map
Data centres are no longer merely foundational – they are existential to every digital ambition. Artificial intelligence has turned the spotlight on infrastructure at scale, with models like GPT‑5 and others demanding unprecedented computing intensity and 24/7 availability. That demand doesn’t just stretch software and GPUs – it stretches energy systems, supply chains, land availability, and planning frameworks across the globe.
According to McKinsey, Europe’s IT load from data centres is expected to triple by 2030, surging past 35 GW. Goldman Sachs suggests power demand from AI and digital infrastructure could grow as much as 30% in major economies. This has made infrastructure planning one of the biggest bottlenecks to Europe’s digital competitiveness.
And the FLAP‑D markets – Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin – are already feeling the squeeze. From grid delays to land saturation and environmental limits, traditional Tier 1 hubs are being stretched thin.
In response, hyperscalers, cloud providers, and digital infrastructure investors are all asking the same question:
Where is the next frontier?
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