Europe's digital backbone: AI, connectivity and clean energy

Europe’s data demand is rising fast. By 2030, its data centres are expected to need around 35GW of power, more than three times today’s capacity. That growth is driven by AI and cloud computing, which now depend as much on electricity as on fibre networks.

Data4 has positioned itself as a major operator in this shift. It runs a 1.5GW data centre platform across several European countries, tied into both submarine cables and terrestrial fibre to support low‑latency traffic for hyperscalers, cloud providers and AI firms. The company plans to invest €21.5 billion through 2030, including a €2 billion mega‑campus near Frankfurt with up to 180MW of power, and a 250MW campus at Paris‑Saclay that aims to strengthen the region as an AI and cloud hub. Data4 says its sites use carbon‑free energy backed by long‑term deals for nuclear, wind and solar, and it feeds surplus heat into local district heating where possible. The company presents this as a model where digital infrastructure growth, clean power and local engagement move together, arguing that Europe’s future competitiveness in AI depends on networks and energy systems that are global in reach, locally grounded and built to cut emissions.