Spain positions itself as AI data‑center hub amid rising energy and water concerns

Spain is being promoted as the main gateway for artificial‑intelligence data centres in Southern Europe, with most facilities concentrated around Madrid, which hosts about 90 % of the country’s capacity. Industry forecasts from the International Energy Agency warn that global electricity use by data centres will double to roughly 945 TWh by 2030 – about 3 % of total demand – and growth of 12‑15 % per year will outpace all other sectors.

The rapid expansion is drawing opposition worldwide. Residents in small U.S. towns report relentless noise, dust and a surge in housing costs after data‑centre construction, while communities near Inzai, Japan have staged protests over heat, fire risk and the millions of litres of freshwater required for cooling. Critics say the physical footprint of AI services threatens local water supplies, raises property prices and creates social friction, even as Spain seeks to attract the capital inflow associated with the digital surge.