Are data centres a competitor or catalyst for industrial and logistics space?

In an increasingly digital world, data centres (DCs) have become the infrastructure that underpins modern society. Beyond this, an arms race for AI supremacy among incumbent tech giants and smaller challengers is driving the need for vast arrays of computing power and storage. This combination of steady digital growth and an AI-driven infrastructure super-cycle has led to a radical rethink of forecasted demand for energy, space and components.

According to Macquarie, global DC power capacity grew by more than 200% between 2015 and 2024, rising from 26 gigawatts (GW) to 81 GW. This figure is forecast to rise to 222 GW by 2030. Comparing the two periods, growth has accelerated from 13.5% per annum to 18.0%. The sector’s energy needs were initially expected to grow slowly and linearly. Far from this, more recent estimates suggest a 15–17% annual uptick in energy demand from DCs.

Read More: Savills UK | Are data centres a competitor or catalyst for industrial and logistics space?