Unchecked data centres risk tripling power costs without shared energy planning
Warnings from Spain demonstrate why Europe needs a single energy market to handle the immense power demands of the digital economy.
By United States of Europe editorial team · How we write editorial
Spain's government has warned in official documentation sent to the Council of State that an unchecked surge in data centres could increase electricity generation costs by 200% by 2030. According to official estimates reported by El País, this rapid expansion could also push carbon dioxide emissions up by 65%, threatening household purchasing power and industrial competitiveness.
To be sure, expanding data infrastructure is essential if Europe is to secure digital sovereignty and host advanced computing capabilities. Tech companies need rapid access to power, and individual member states naturally seek to attract high-value digital investments to their regions.
Yet managing power grids in 27 separate national silos creates severe vulnerabilities. When a single nation faces localised grid strain or spikes in fossil generation to feed digital infrastructure, local consumers bear the financial burden. Fragmented oversight also allows tech developers to seek quick connections wherever rules are weakest, regardless of wider grid stability.
The solution is not to block digital growth, but to complete the European energy market and set common standards for energy-intensive infrastructure. A fully interconnected European grid can balance demand across borders, directing renewable power where computing hubs need it most. Europe can build a strong digital economy, but only if it plans its energy together.