Leading data center markets in Europe 2016-2024, by inventory

London remained Europe's largest data center market in 2024, with total inventory in the British capital surpassing ***** megawatts as of the fourth quarter of the year. Frankfurt was the second-largest market, followed by Amsterdam.

Major markets feel the strain

Collectively referred to as the FLAPD markets, Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin are the data center hubs powering Europe's digital transformation. However, with data center demand surging across the world, operators are finding it increasingly difficult to secure power and land in these established markets. Local officials in Dublin, for example, have enforced a de facto moratorium on new facilities in the city, with data centers already accounting for more than a fifth of the country's total energy consumption.

Striking a balance

Rising demand poses a challenge for European authorities. On the one hand, the expansion of digital infrastructure is considered crucial if the region is to fully realize the economic potential of AI and next-generation technologies. On the other hand, the European Union faces increasing pressure to rein in the power and water intensive data center industry. Newly introduced regulations in the EU aim to address this by requiring major operators in the bloc to report key efficiency metrics, thereby helping to quantify the market’s drain on resources.