The panorama of the data centers in Spain is experiencing an evolution, characterized by important investments and accelerated growth due to technological advances after pandemic. Although the main centers, such as Madrid and Barcelona, are still development foci, the remarkable diversification towards emerging regions indicates a paradigm shift.
This is highlighted by the “Iberian Market of Data Centers: Spain Comes of Age” of Collierswhere it is also shown that investors have great interest in opportunities in this sector, despite challenges such as energy supply limitations and the need for operational efficiency.
In this context, it is likely that innovative refrigeration technologies and sustainable energy practices perform vital roles in the evolution of this industry, positioning Spain as an outstanding actor in the European market of data centers.
Data centers in Spain
The data centers sector in Spain is going through a significant transformation with an increase in investments and a boom of new projects. This growth, however, also generates questions about the viability of some announced initiatives.
In 2024, key acquisitions occurred that show high interest in the market, including the purchase of Nabiax by Capital Air and Adam Data Centers for CVC DIF. These operations reflect a strong demand in different segments, such as retail, wholesale and hyperscale.
In addition, investments in the sector are expected to exceed 8,000 million euros by 2026. This development is supported by three main factors:
- The execution of the Redeia five -year plan, which has suffered delays.
- The adoption of artificial intelligence technologies to optimize efficiency and avoid obsolescence, with innovations in air and liquid cooling.
- The availability of specialized personnel, especially in emerging regions outside Madrid and Barcelona.
The data centers pipeline in Spain grows 20% in a single semester
Evolution after pandemic and investors’ interest
The impact of COVID-19 accelerated the digitalization and demand for technological infrastructure, generating an initial phase of adjustments in the yields followed by a stabilization. The participation of institutional capital has promoted a tendency towards corporate acquisitions, with a 2024 marked by important movements in both the wholesale and retail market.
Transactions in the Iberian Peninsula exceeded 1,000 million euros in 2024, reflecting the attractiveness of the sector. Colliers has intervened in 70% of the outstanding operations, including the purchase of Nabiax and Adam Ecotech. Investors seek to position themselves in the initial phases of the development of data centers.
Key trends in the operation of data centers
The sector is evolving with several relevant operational trends:
- Optimization of the relationship between soil and energy.
- Increased rack density, especially in centers focused on AI.
- Challenges in the electricity supply due to the saturation of networks.
- Greater adoption of renewable energies.
- Implementation of liquid cooling technologies.
Geographical expansion and new markets
The energy limitations in Madrid and other established areas are leading operators to explore new locations such as Aragon, Extremadura and Barcelona, the latter with an expansion of 158 MW to 233 MW. In addition, regions such as Valencia and the Bilbao-Cantabria-Navarra axis emerge as alternative hubs thanks to their connectivity and lower costs.
The future of the sector will be marked by government incentives for sustainable development and the growing need for infrastructure with capacity for AI. In the same way, the optimization of energy consumption and the use of renewable sources will be determining factors in its evolution.
