AWS invests €7.8 bn in Portugal, establishing new data‑center hub

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has selected Portugal as one of the three inaugural "local zones" in Europe, committing an investment of €7.8 billion to build new data‑centre capacity. André Rodrigues, AWS Head of Technology for Southern Europe, said the choice reflects Portugal’s regulatory environment, geographic position and strong renewable‑energy profile.

The flagship data centre near Sines will employ a closed‑circuit seawater cooling system that draws cold Atlantic water and returns it only slightly warmed, eliminating the need for potable‑water consumption. Power for the facility will be supplied through long‑term contracts for clean electricity generated from wind and solar sources, reinforcing Portugal’s transition to green energy and creating highly‑skilled technical jobs.

AWS expects the project to enhance Portugal’s role in global data traffic and artificial‑intelligence infrastructure, while injecting private capital into the national grid and supporting local employment for engineers, security specialists and maintenance teams.