Artificial intelligence is accelerating the transformation of key sectors, such as logistics, healthcare, finance, etc. This paradigm shift has put in check a sector that until recently remained in the background: data centers. Because of the technological revolution, these facilities operate without breaks or interruptions, consuming large amounts of energy and thus representing a new challenge in terms of sustainability and resource use.  

The increasing electrification of the system, coupled with the high penetration of renewable energies, generates tensions in the electricity markets and calls into question the profitability of renewable projects that sell directly to the market. This situation has also opened a window of opportunity: coupling data centers, with a stable and predictable consumption profile, to renewable generation projects. According to experts, this energy complementarity can be a great opportunity to stabilize revenues through long-term sale and purchase agreements and improve system efficiency from both an energy and economic perspective. 

This new direction has great expectations in Spain. Due to the country's abundance of solar and wind resources, its geographical location, the competitive price of capture and the country's experience in hybrid projects, Spain has every chance of becoming a hub for sustainable data centers in Europe. Something very possible considering that international investments in resilient infrastructures continue to rise.  

Although the theory sounds good, turning this idea into reality will require stable regulatory frameworks, public-private collaboration and advance planning of grid connections. In addition, it will be key to promote energy storage technologies, such as batteries or green hydrogen, to manage the intermittency of renewable production. 

Ireland is a case in point. The rapid growth of its data centers has meant that they already consume more than 20% of the country's electricity, exceeding even household consumption. This has forced the country to regulate their expansion, highlighting the need for planned energy integration. 

In Spain, data centers could not only absorb renewable surpluses, but also act as levers for technological development and sustainability. With the unstoppable rise of artificial intelligence, the time to move in this direction is imminent. 

This roadmap will be one of the key themes at Data Centre Worldwithin the framework of Tech Show Madrid, on October 29 and 30 at IFEMA. During the event, experts, companies and institutional leaders will address the challenges posed by this new energy and digital paradigm, exploring both the economic opportunities and the social impact of turning Spain into a European hub for sustainable data centers. Panels, presentations and exhibition areas will identify concrete solutions for an efficient development aligned with sustainability objectives.