Data centers: over 100 GW to connect, energy is the new bottleneck

For years, the data center debate focused on accelerator supply. The bottleneck has shifted to energy and the grid that must carry it. Estimates cited by SolarEdge put the global need for new AI computing capacity at over 100 gigawatts between 2026 and 2030.

The British case

The clearest example is in the UK. Nscale developed the Loughton project in Essex, presented in 2025 as the country's largest AI supercomputer. It will not enter service in 2027 as planned. UK Power Networks, the distributor, says the grid can only supply enough power from the early 2030s. The facility requested up to 90 megawatts, roughly the consumption of 315,000 households.

The waiting list illustrates the scale. In June, 315 data centers were awaiting connection, representing a total demand of 73 gigawatts. This exceeds the national peak electricity demand of around 45 gigawatts. Regulator Ofgem has warned about accumulated delays. Nscale is evaluating on-site generation options while aiming for a listing with a valuation of around 35 billion dollars.

Italy is moving too

Italy faces the same issue. Mediterra DataCenters will invest more than 20 million euros by the end of 2026 in the Carini site in Palermo province. Acquired with Open Hub Med, the site now operates as PMO01. The plan includes acquiring infrastructure, upgrading existing capacity, and expanding. A roadshow will continue in Bologna and Rome to present the project to operators. The chief executive sees Sicily at the center of the Mediterranean's digital routes.

What to watch

For infrastructure planners, three indicators matter more than chip availability. First, the connection capacity already authorized in the chosen area. Second, water availability for cooling. Third, medium-term energy price stability. These local constraints explain why the map of European data centers is being redrawn toward Northern Europe and areas with surplus electricity production.

"It is no longer a question of accelerators: it is a question of electrons," a summary that emerges from the British and Italian cases.