Growing demand for infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence and cloud services is accelerating the development of the European data center market, according to the CBRE report “European Data Centres.” Poland is beginning to play an increasingly important role in this transformation. Experts estimate that by 2030 the total capacity of Poland’s data center market could reach 500 MW.
The largest concentration of facilities will continue to be located around Warsaw, which already serves as the country’s primary digital infrastructure hub. However, other cities and regions—including Bełchatów, Szczecin, Bielsko-Biała and Choczewo—are also positioning themselves to host major projects.
Europe’s Data Center Capacity Continues to Grow
In the fourth quarter of 2025, Europe added 517 MW of new data center capacity. Across the entire year, operators delivered 859 MW of new supply.
The five largest European data center markets—Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin—accounted for roughly three-quarters of all new capacity delivered in 2025.
London and Frankfurt, the two largest markets in this group, together delivered 433 MW, representing half of all new data center capacity added in Europe during 2025.
The Computing Power Boom
Demand for data centers across Europe continues to grow, but supply remains constrained. In 2026, demand is expected to reach 848 MW, once again exceeding new supply, which is projected at approximately 710 MW.
This will mark the fourth time in the past five years that demand surpasses new investments. As a result, the vacancy rate across the European data center market is forecast to decline to a record low of 5.7 percent.
According to CBRE experts, the strongest demand for AI infrastructure is being generated by companies known as “neoclouds”—providers of cloud services designed specifically for artificial intelligence—as well as global cloud operators, commonly referred to as hyperscalers.
“The growing demand for AI infrastructure is primarily driven by neocloud companies providing AI-focused cloud services and by global hyperscalers. As new cloud regions are developed and the number of devices required to support AI workloads increases, hyperscalers are also expanding their own data center infrastructure. The self-build investment segment in Europe is expected to reach 4.2 GW this year, representing a 24 percent year-on-year increase. This marks the seventeenth consecutive year of double-digit growth,”
says Agnieszka Jankowska, Director, Advisory & Transaction Services, Data Center, CBRE.
Approximately 60 percent of hyperscaler self-build infrastructure operating in the fourth quarter of 2025 was located in Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium.
Infrastructure Constraints Push Developers Toward New Locations
Despite strong demand, developers face significant challenges related to land availability, power connection capacity, and planning procedures. As a result, investors are increasingly seeking new locations outside the largest European data center clusters that can provide sufficient energy infrastructure for large-scale projects.
Poland as an Emerging Data Center Market
Currently, Poland’s data center market totals approximately 200 MW of installed capacity. According to CBRE analyses, the market could more than double by 2030, reaching around 500 MW.
The development of this sector in Poland is primarily concentrated around Warsaw, and this trend is expected to continue. Projects with capacities of 5–10 MW in the capital region remain particularly attractive to investors and operators.
The greater the available power connection capacity, especially when supplied from two independent high-voltage substations, the more attractive a given property becomes for investors and operators.
At the same time, interest in regional data center investments is growing as cities prepare to accommodate increasing demand from operators specializing in AI technologies.
“Many cities in Poland see the development of data centers as an opportunity, treating them as an alternative use for post-industrial sites and a way to create new locations outside Warsaw. The key factor attracting investors is the availability of high-capacity power connections—the larger and faster they can be delivered, the stronger the investment interest. The most desirable plots are those that already have secured power capacity, which significantly shortens project timelines and increases the attractiveness of the location,”
adds Agnieszka Jankowska of CBRE.
