The growth of data centres and the challenges of digital transformation
Digital transformation is redefining the way we live, work and interact. Behind every digital process, every cloud service, every connected application and every advance in artificial intelligence lies a critical infrastructure that makes this new model possible: data centers.
The consolidation of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT) and business digitalisation is driving an unprecedented demand for processing power and data storage capacity.
As a result, data centers have become one of the most important strategic assets for today’s economy.
According to various research sources, such as McKinsey & Company and the National Data Center Plan, installed capacity is projected to grow by 20 per cent annually in Europe over the next five years, whilst capacity in the United States is expected to triple over the next three years.
Izq: Proyección crecimiento DC USA (McKinsey & Company, 2024)
Der: Proyección crecimiento DC Europa (Plan Nacional de Data Centers 2024-2030)
However, this growth also poses significant challenges relating to energy consumption, resource availability, climate resilience, sustainability and compliance with ESG criteria.
The key is no longer simply to build more data centers, but to design digital infrastructure capable of combining performance, energy efficiency, resilience and long-term sustainability.
The trends shaping the future of data centers
Throughout 2026, the Asla Green Solutions team has taken part in some of Europe’s leading events specialising in technology, energy and digital infrastructure, such as The Wave Tech Congress (Zaragoza) and DCD Connect Southern Europe (Madrid).
The conclusions shared at both events reflect an increasingly evident reality: the growth of data centres can no longer be addressed solely from a technological perspective.
Energy availability, climate resilience, sustainability and operational efficiency have become strategic factors in ensuring the sector’s development.
Key trends identified include:
- The exponential growth in energy demand driven by artificial intelligence.
- The need to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy.
- The importance of strengthening electricity infrastructure.
- The move towards smarter management models based on data, digital twins and predictive maintenance.
The need to integrate ESG criteria, energy efficiency and resilience from the earliest design stages was also highlighted, avoiding the oversizing of infrastructure, prioritising flexible and modular design, and optimising resources throughout their entire life cycle.
The conclusion is clear: the future of data centers lies not simply in building more digital capacity, but in developing infrastructure capable of simultaneously addressing the technological, energy and climate challenges of the coming decades.
Energy demand and artificial intelligence: the new challenge facing data centers
Hyperscale data centers consume significant amounts of energy, in some cases equalling the consumption of small towns.
Technology is evolving rapidly towards equipment with a higher power density per rack, capable of processing larger volumes of data in less space whilst consuming fewer resources per unit of computation.
Artificial intelligence is one of the main drivers of this increase in power density per unit of space.
New models require ever-increasing computational capacity, which drives up demand for digital infrastructure and energy.
However, this reality is often analysed out of context.
Data centers are among the most efficient buildings in existence today.
Few infrastructures boast such advanced levels of monitoring, automation, operational control and energy optimisation.
Artificial intelligence itself is becoming a key tool for improving the energy efficiency of data centers.
Thanks to AI, it is possible to optimise climate control, reduce energy consumption, anticipate incidents, improve predictive maintenance and maximise the performance of critical assets.
The combination of artificial intelligence, digital twins and advanced data analytics is enabling data centres to operate more efficiently, resiliently and sustainably.
Izq: Proyección crecimiento DC USA (McKinsey & Company, 2024)
Der: Proyección crecimiento DC Europa (Plan Nacional de Data Centers 2024-2030)
Redundancy, levels, tiers and climate resilience
Data centers are critical infrastructures that must guarantee operational continuity even in the face of unexpected events such as power cuts, equipment failures or external incidents.
To this end, they incorporate redundant systems that ensure the continuous operation of services.
This capability is usually classified according to Tier I, Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV levels, which determine the degree of redundancy, availability and resilience of a facility.
Traditionally, many engineering firms have tended to oversize systems to ensure ample safety margins.
However, this approach can result in higher costs, increased resource consumption and an unnecessary environmental impact.
Consequently, one of the major challenges today is to strike the right balance between resilience, sustainability, energy efficiency and economic viability.
Designing an efficient data centre requires a multidisciplinary approach that combines engineering, property strategy, sustainability, life-cycle analysis and energy optimisation.
The aim is not to indiscriminately maximise installed capacity, but to size each piece of infrastructure appropriately to meet the project’s actual needs.
Furthermore, resilience is no longer limited solely to ensuring business continuity.
Adapting to climate change has become a strategic factor in ensuring that these infrastructures remain operational over the coming decades.
Embedded carbon: the hidden challenge of sustainability in data centers
When discussing sustainability in data centers, much of the focus tends to be on energy consumption during the operational phase.
However, there is another aspect that is becoming increasingly important: embodied carbon.
Embedded carbon refers to the emissions associated with the extraction of raw materials, the manufacture of materials, transport and the construction of a building, even before it becomes operational.
In any type of building, and particularly in large-scale infrastructure such as data centers, the greatest opportunities for reduction are usually found in the structure and foundations.
Optimising the structural design, selecting materials with a lower environmental impact and applying life-cycle analysis methodologies can significantly reduce a project’s carbon footprint from its earliest stages.
Therefore, the sustainability of a data center must be approached from a holistic perspective that takes into account both operational emissions and the embodied carbon in its construction.
What is BREEAM certification for data centers?
BREEAM certification is one of the most internationally recognised sustainability assessment systems for buildings. Its aim is to measure and verify the environmental performance of a building, taking into account aspects such as energy, water, materials, health and wellbeing, transport, waste, biodiversity and climate resilience.
In the case of data centers, the certification takes on particular significance due to the technical complexity of these facilities and their high operational demands.
BREEAM Data Centers enables an objective assessment of the sustainable performance of these facilities during the design, construction and operational phases, providing independent assurance of their environmental performance.
As well as helping to reduce environmental impact, sustainability certifications help to improve operational efficiency, increase asset value, facilitate access to sustainable finance and meet the growing demands of investors and operators.
For this reason, environmental certifications have become a strategic tool for the development of data centers aligned with ESG objectives and the energy transition.
ASLA Green Solutions’ experience in BREEAM certification for data centers
Since 2020, Asla Green Solutions has been actively working on sustainability certification projects for data centers: some examples included: https://aslagreensolutions.com/proyectos/.
The company has been involved in three case studies on adapting the BREEAM Data Centers International methodology to the Spanish market.
Asla Green Solutions was involved in adapting BREEAM Data Centers International to the Spanish market and has achieved two ‘Outstanding’ ratings in flagship projects.
The results achieved reflect the level of specialisation attained:
- First case study: ‘Outstanding’ rating during the construction phase.
- Second case study: ‘Outstanding’ rating during the design phase.
- Third case study: application of advanced sustainability and energy efficiency criteria tailored to the needs of the domestic market.
This experience enables Asla Green Solutions to support developers, operators and investors in the development of sustainable, efficient data centers that meet the most demanding international standards.
First bespoke BREEAM data center for CyrusOne to achieve ‘Exceptional’ certification in Spain. Floor area: 27,000 m². C1 MAD1
ESG, the European Taxonomy and technical studies for sustainable data centers
The sustainability of a data center does not depend solely on obtaining certification.
At Asla Green Solutions, we carry out the necessary studies to meet ESG, regulatory and market requirements.
These include:
- Energy studies and operational efficiency analyses.
- Application of the criteria set out in the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centers.
- Assessments aligned with the European Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance.
Studies on adaptation and resilience to climate change. - Analysis of physical climate risks and transition risks.
Studies on biodiversity and environmental impact. - Life-cycle analysis and reduction of embedded carbon.
- Decarbonisation and emissions reduction strategies.
- Advice on environmental and sustainability certifications.
The integration of all these elements enables the design and operation of digital infrastructure equipped to meet the challenges of the energy transition and new regulatory requirements.
The Future of Data Centers: Sustainability, Efficiency and Resilience
Data centers will be one of the fundamental infrastructures of the economy of the future.
Against this backdrop, the sector’s success will depend on its ability to combine growth, energy efficiency, climate resilience and sustainability.
The integration of renewable energy, the reduction of embedded carbon, the use of artificial intelligence, the application of ESG criteria and the attainment of environmental certifications will be key elements in developing a new generation of sustainable data centers.
At Asla Green Solutions, we continue to work towards driving this transformation, helping our clients to develop digital infrastructure that combines technological innovation, sustainability and long-term value creation.
