The data center sector is at a turning point. According to projections, they could account for up to 4% of global electricity consumption by 2030, a figure that reflects both their essential role in the digital economy and the challenges they face in terms of sustainability. At the same time, the irruption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and in particular the exponential growth of generative models is accelerating the demand for processing across industries. This phenomenon has led to data centers having to evolve rapidly, hosting increasingly dense servers, with consumption that in some intensive deployments already exceeds 100 kW per rack. Recent studies indicate that hyperscale infrastructures are experiencing annual increases of between 20% and 30% in energy density requirements.

The McKinsey report confirms the magnitude of the challenge: by 2030, almost half of the energy capacity of new European data centers could be allocated to AI-related workloads, which would mean tripling consumption from 10 GW today to 35 GW. Faced with this pressure, the industry cannot just grow; it must do so in an orderly, sustainable and long-term visionary manner. This is where operators such as Data4 make the difference, betting on a rapid expansion model that is aligned with the specific requirements of their customers. With a 15 billion euro investment plan and strategic projects throughout Europe, the company combines financial strength with adaptability, ensuring that each infrastructure can respond to current and future needs. In this process, operational quality and resilience are also key: the recent power outages on the Iberian Peninsula demonstrated that only the best prepared operators can ensure continuity and reliability without compromising service.

Sustainability also occupies a central place. Data4 is active in all impact areas(scopes 1, 2 and 3), from construction to operation, with concrete measures to reduce the carbon footprint. In terms of energy efficiency, the company is not only optimizing the design to achieve PUE values in the 1.2-1.3 range, but has also incorporated the systematic use of renewable energies and is studying the integration of energy storage systems. These solutions would allow a more flexible integration of green energy, accumulating it and using it at times of greater need.

Circular innovation is also part of the answer. From the use of low-emission concrete in construction, with reductions of up to 70% in the associated footprint, to pioneering projects to recover the heat generated by servers for use in district heating, agriculture or bioproducts, the sector is demonstrating that there are real alternatives for reducing environmental impact. In parallel, the use of liquid cooling technologies promises to reduce cooling requirements by 30% to 40% compared to traditional systems, while life cycle analysis (LCA) makes it possible to identify improvements from the initial design phase.

AI, paradoxically, is both a challenge and a solution. While it multiplies the demand for capacity, it also offers tools to better manage resources, optimize energy consumption, improve cooling systems and anticipate operational needs. At Data4, the construction of flexible and adaptable infrastructures ensures that the farms can respond to both traditional loads and the more demanding loads associated with AI.

Flexibility, investment, quality and sustainability are no longer optional: they have become the pillars on which the competitiveness of data centers in Europe is based. Operators such as Data4 are no longer simply hosting providers, but architects of a digital and sustainable future. Only those capable of innovating, adapting and maintaining the balance between growth and responsibility will be able to thrive in a context where the energy transformation and the AI revolution are advancing unstoppably.