Relinea Returns from Kickstart Europe 2026: Key Insights Shaping the Future of Data Centres

 

The Relinea team has just returned from two days at the Kickstart Europe Conference, reconnecting with clients and industry friends while taking in a packed agenda of insightful and thought-provoking discussions. As ever, Kickstart Europe provided a valuable pulse check on the forces reshaping the European data centre landscape.

From AI-driven demand and power constraints to policy shifts and emerging regional opportunities, several clear themes stood out.

 

AI, Power and the New Shape of Demand

 

In a sharp, data-rich 10-minute market update, Kevin Restivo, Director and Head of Data Center Research at CBRE, shared the latest insights into AI-led data centre development across Europe. Drawing on CBRE’s most recent research, Kevin highlighted how hyperscalers and a growing wave of neocloud providers are fundamentally reshaping demand profiles.

A consistent message emerged: power availability has become the defining constraint on growth. While demand continues to accelerate, especially for AI-optimised capacity, access to scalable and reliable power is now the primary factor determining where development can realistically occur. As a result, new regions with favourable power dynamics are emerging as the next beneficiaries of investment.

 

State of the Market: EUDCA 2026 Report Launched

 

A major moment at the conference came with Michael Winterson, Secretary General of the EUDCA, launching the new State of European Data Centres 2026 report.

The report paints a picture of a sector at an inflection point. European data centre demand continues to grow strongly, driven by cloud adoption, AI workloads, and digital sovereignty initiatives. However, this growth is increasingly uneven, shaped by energy availability, planning policy, and public acceptance.

Key findings include:

• Tier 1 markets remain constrained, with power scarcity, planning restrictions and environmental pressures limiting new capacity in locations such as Dublin, Frankfurt, London and Amsterdam.
• Sustainability has moved from ambition to obligation, with operators facing rising expectations around energy efficiency, heat reuse, water stewardship and grid support.
• Policy and permitting are now as critical as capital, with markets that offer clear, predictable regulatory frameworks attracting a disproportionate share of new investment.
• Tier 2 and emerging markets are gaining momentum, as developers and operators look beyond traditional hubs to unlock scalable, energy-aligned growth.

Overall, the report underlines a clear shift: Europe’s data centre future will be shaped as much by coordination with energy systems and policymakers as by technology itself.

You can download the full report here.

 

Powering Growth in Congested Tier 1 Markets

 

In the session on Powering Data Centres in Congested Tier 1 Markets, panellists explored practical solutions for navigating limited grid capacity. Topics included advanced battery systems, on-site energy storage, flexibility services, load shifting, and smarter energy orchestration.

Garry Connolly of Digital Infrastructure Ireland highlighted a major policy development with the release of Ireland’s Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP). The plan marks a decisive shift toward strategic, energy-aligned growth, with the State now pre-determining where large energy users can locate. This approach positions regional Ireland as the natural frontier for future expansion and signals a move away from passive foreign direct investment toward active industrial planning.

 

Policy Perspectives from Tier 1 Markets

 

The Tier 1 Data Centre Markets: A Policy Makers’ Perspective session examined how leading markets are responding to construction pauses, limited expansion capacity, and growing societal and environmental expectations.

Daniel Ray, Director of Planning and Services at Slough Borough Council, reflected on Slough’s evolution, noting that it has taken almost three decades to become the energy hub it is today. He also highlighted how councils across England, including Leeds and Manchester, are now actively engaging with Slough to understand how long-term planning and infrastructure investment can unlock responsible growth elsewhere.

 

Designing for AI at Scale

 

The Smart Data Centres for Rapid AI Expansion session focused on how the facilities of the future must differ fundamentally from those of today. Experts from construction, cooling, power and network infrastructure explored what truly matters when building AI-ready capacity at scale.

Discussions covered the rapid evolution of deployment models, the new thermal and electrical demands introduced by AI workloads, the impact of high-density connectivity on physical design, and the importance of smart operational capabilities to maintain performance, resilience and efficiency.

 

Eastern Europe: The Next Frontier

 

Rounding out the event, the Rising Markets: Eastern Europe session highlighted how the region is rapidly gaining traction as a Tier 2 destination. Panellists explored opportunities across Poland, Czechia, Slovenia and Croatia, pointing to competitive energy markets, improving infrastructure readiness, strong talent pools and attractive strategic locations.

Eastern Europe is increasingly positioning itself as a credible and compelling option for sustainable, scalable data centre expansion, particularly as pressure continues to build in traditional Tier 1 hubs.

 

 

Kickstart Europe once again reinforced the importance of aligning technology, energy, policy and planning to unlock the next phase of growth. The Relinea team left the conference with fresh insights, valuable conversations, and a clear view of the challenges and opportunities ahead.