Article

The global data center sector is set to nearly double its installed capacity from 103 GW to approximately 200 GW by 2030, driven by artificial intelligence. Portugal is establishing itself as an emerging European market, supported by a $3 trillion investment supercycle, provided there are no signs of a real estate bubble.

Key factors include Portugal's energy stability and historical investments in renewable energy, which enable large-scale projects. The market is largely dominated by 'on-premise' data centers concentrated around Lisbon, benefiting from international connectivity.

In 2024, renewable energy sources accounted for about 71% of Portugal's electricity consumption. The country, a net exporter of energy since 2016, has an installed capacity of 22,813 MW. The largest operational data center is in Covilhã, owned by Altice Portugal, while upcoming projects include the Sines Data Center with a capacity of up to 1.2 GW, and the Atlas Edge data center in Carnaxide.