ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Scaling AI in Europe: A
rtifi cial intelligence is transforming industries and driving a surge in computing requirements. Meeting these needs relies on data centres, which provide the core infrastructure for compute, storage and networking.
Across Europe, capacity requirements are rising. By 2030, demand is projected to rise from about 10GW today to nearly 35GW. At the same time, new supply is expected to grow by around 17 per cent in the near term as operators scale up. Meeting this demand will require between US$250 billion and US$300 billion in infrastructure investment, excluding power generation.
The rapid expansion exposes a critical limitation: supporting infrastructure, which includes power delivery, cooling and monitoring and control systems, is vital to ensure data centres can operate reliably and effi ciently.
A distinct data centre landscape Europe is developing a distinctive data centre model shaped by market demand and regulatory requirements and a growing emphasis on digital sovereignty. Initiatives aimed at reinforcing European cloud and data infrastructure spur investment in domestic capacity, allowing data to be stored, processed and managed within country borders.
Instead of focusing on hyperscale facilities, as seen in the United States, where major cloud providers dominate growth, Europe is expanding through a diverse mix of mid-sized facilities across various countries. Investment is also coming from a wider group of organisations. Beyond cloud providers, telecom operators, industrial fi rms and large enterprises are building capacity for their own operations. In parallel, retail and logistics companies are deploying infrastructure to manage increasingly digital supply chains.
This is creating a more distributed network of sites, including edge deployments that minimise latency and enable local processing. While this enhances responsiveness and meets regulatory requirements, it also increases the number of systems that must function reliably.
Power: a structural constraint Power availability and grid access are already limiting development in key European markets. Grid capacity limits, lengthy connection lead times and competition for electricity are delaying new projects. This strain is amplifi ed by broader electrifi cation trends. The shift toward electric vehicles, heat pumps and electrifi ed industry is increasing demand on already strained grids, while the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar is introducing greater variability in supply. A single large data centre can consume between 100 and 1,000MW, which is comparable to the real-time energy needs of a new neighbourhood of 80,000 to 800,000 homes. This level of demand requires not only access to suffi cient power but also effi cient distribution and management within the facility.
At the same time, AI workloads are pushing power density high at the rack level, placing additional strain on both facility design and local energy infrastructure. Ensuring reliable power delivery is therefore crucial. Data centres rely on robust architectures that combine grid supply with backup systems such as UPS and battery storage to ensure uninterrupted operation, even in the event of outages or fl uctuations. These systems depend on high-performance components and interconnects for stability and minimum risk. This also drives the need to improve effi ciency and reduce environmental impact, particularly in a region with strict regulatory and sustainability policies.
Cooling: reaching practical limits Higher power density leads directly to increased heat output. AI and high- performance computing are driving rack densities beyond 150kW, pushing conventional air cooling close to practical limits and restricting how far capacity can scale within fi xed footprints.
Advanced approaches, such as liquid cooling, are emerging as key solutions. Europe has a clear advantage in this area. Several leading data centre cooling technology providers are based in the region, refl ecting established expertise in thermal management.
Monitoring: from visibility to control As site numbers grow and system density increases, maintaining comprehensive oversight becomes more complex. Operators need real-time data on temperature, airfl ow, power consumption, and overall system performance to ensure effi cient operation and anticipate failures.
Monitoring is evolving from passive observation to more automated control and optimisation. Sensor networks and predictive maintenance systems enable earlier intervention and enhanced stability.
Infrastructure defi nes how far AI can scale
AI growth in Europe will not be limited by processing capability alone. Reliable energy delivery, effective thermal management and precise system control are not supporting elements; they drive performance, effi ciency and scalability.
JULY/AUGUST 2026 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS 23
By Markus Lorenz, director, Industry Marketing, Industrial, TTI Inc – Europe The critical role of data centre power, cooling and Monitoring
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