From the Edge to the Epicentre: Why Portugal Is Europe’s Next Digital Powerhouse

In Cushman & Wakefield’s recent EMEA Data Centre Market Update (H1 2025), a quiet but powerful shift took centre stage: Lisbon has been elevated to the ranks of “Established” Data Centre Markets in Europe. You can download the full report directly from Cushman & Wakefield here: EMEA Data Centre Market Update H1 2025.

While that recognition may seem like a simple reclassification, it signals something far more transformative: the emergence of a new gravitational centre for AI-era infrastructure - one built not on the legacy of the past, but on the opportunity of the future.

The AI Surge Is Reshaping the Map

Data centres are no longer merely foundational - they are existential to every digital ambition. Artificial intelligence has turned the spotlight on infrastructure at scale, with models like GPT‑5 and others demanding unprecedented computing intensity and 24/7 availability. That demand doesn’t just stretch software and GPUs - it stretches energy systems, supply chains, land availability, and planning frameworks across the globe.

According to McKinsey, Europe’s IT load from data centres is expected to triple by 2030, surging past 35 GW. Goldman Sachs suggests power demand from AI and digital infrastructure could grow as much as 30% in major economies. This has made infrastructure planning one of the biggest bottlenecks to Europe’s digital competitiveness.

And the FLAP‑D markets - Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin - are already feeling the squeeze. From grid delays to land saturation and environmental limits, traditional Tier 1 hubs are being stretched thin.

In response, hyperscalers, cloud providers, and digital infrastructure investors are all asking the same question:

Where is the next frontier?

Figure 1: Cushman & Wakefield EMEA Data Centre H1 2025 Update | Page 19

Portugal: Purpose‑Built for the AI Infrastructure Era

The answer increasingly points to Portugal: and more specifically, to the Sines region.

Here’s why:

• Power at Scale: With grid access for 1.2 GW of IT capacity, Start Campus is one of Europe’s largest AI‑ready developments, able to absorb today’s AI training loads and tomorrow’s global compute surge.
• Sustainable by Design: Operating with a WUE of 0.0 thanks to direct seawater cooling, the SINES DC campus offers a zero freshwater footprint and a PUE of 1.1 - setting the standard for green hyperscale builds.
• Connectivity Without Compromise: Located at the intersection of subsea cable systems like EllaLink, 2Africa, and Google’s future transatlantic routes, Sines is becoming the new landing zone for intercontinental data.
• Speed to Build: With permitting, power, and land secured, Start Campus delivers capacity faster than Tier 1 markets - the first 31 MW facility (SIN01) is already live, while a 180 MW second phase (SIN02) is underway.

All of this is possible because Portugal is not retrofitting the past - it is building the future. The ecosystem here isn’t burdened by legacy grid constraints or real estate limitations. Instead, it operates in sync with national policy on renewables, energy transition, digital connectivity, and economic growth.

Figure 2: Cushman & Wakefield EMEA Data Centre H1 2025 Update | Page 05

Lisbon’s “Established” Status Is Just the Beginning

That’s why becoming an Established Data Centre Market matters so much. It isn’t an endpoint - it’s a catalyst.

The broader Iberian Peninsula - Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao - is coming to life with large-scale campus development. Yet Lisbon and Sines stand apart: fully AI-scale, renewably powered, sustainably cooled, geopolitically stable, the ideal launchpad for global infrastructure growth.

A Final Thought: Build Where the Future Lives

At Start Campus, we believe infrastructure can be both scalable and sustainable, both regional and global. We’re proud to be part of the reason Lisbon now stands alongside Europe’s most mature digital markets and even prouder of what’s still ahead.

Because the AI race won’t be won just by building smart models, it will be won by building the smartest infrastructure.

We are proud to be building the digital backbone for the future of AI on the Atlantic Coast today.

Portugal is ready. We are ready.

Written by Omer Wilson

Chief Marketing Officer at Start Campus, Omer brings over 20 years of international leadership experience in digital infrastructure, AI, and data centre strategy. He has held senior marketing roles across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia with global technology firms, and is a frequent commentator on the intersection of hyperscale growth, sustainability, and the future of digital economies.

Get in touch with Omer Wilson