Madrid ranks among the leading European data centre markets and occupies fifth place among the primary markets in the EMEA region, according to the Global Data Centre Market Comparison 2026 report compiled by Cushman & Wakefield. The study analyses variables such as the availability of energy and land, connectivity, operating costs, market maturity and the regulatory environment.
The Spanish capital shares this group with other established destinations for the industry, such as Helsinki, Oslo, Abu Dhabi and Milan. It currently has a total market capacity of 538 MW and, according to the forecasts in the report, could reach 1,105 MW by 2030.
The study also highlights the progress of the Spanish data centre market. Operational capacity is growing at a rate of approximately 9% year-on-year, and the total market size is expanding by around 16%. This growth is linked to the rise in demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence, the development of digital infrastructure, and Spain’s position on international connectivity routes thanks to the arrival of new submarine cables.
Alongside Madrid, the report highlights Zaragoza and Barcelona as among the most attractive markets for the development of new digital infrastructure in EMEA. Zaragoza ranks seventh among the primary markets and stands out for its readiness for new developments, its operational conditions and the advantages it offers for optimising energy and cooling costs.
Barcelona ranks sixth among tertiary markets and retains its appeal due to its role as a strategic connectivity hub in the Mediterranean. However, the report identifies energy costs as one of the main factors that could affect its competitiveness in the coming years.
The ranking of primary markets is led by Helsinki, followed by Oslo, Abu Dhabi and Milan. Behind Madrid come Stockholm, Zaragoza, Dubai, Zurich and Paris.
The report notes that access to energy, land availability and regulatory timelines have become key factors in the development of new data centres in Europe. This situation is driving interest in alternative markets to the major traditional hubs, known as FLAPD – Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin – which account for a large proportion of Europe’s installed capacity but face growing constraints on further expansion.
In this context, Spain is among the markets that could attract greater investment activity if it manages to meet the energy and regulatory requirements demanded by the sector.
“We are entering a new phase for the data centre industry. Growth will remain robust, but it will become increasingly selective. Markets capable of guaranteeing access to energy, land availability, streamlined development processes and investment security will be the ones to attract the next wave of projects in Europe. Spain has a real opportunity to strengthen its position on the European digital infrastructure map, provided it is able to meet these challenges,” said Pere Morcillo, Head of Industrial and Logistics at Cushman & Wakefield Spain.
Sustainability is also becoming a key factor in the competitiveness of these developments. More than half of the electricity generated in Spain already comes from renewable sources, and the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan sets a target of 74% renewable generation by 2030. According to the consultancy, this trend, together with the growing adoption of green energy by operators, helps to strengthen the country’s appeal for the establishment of new data centres.
