Spain Targets AI-Driven Data Center Power Surge with New 2026 Energy Efficiency Rules

Spain is preparing to curb a rapid rise in electricity demand from data centres that are increasingly used for generative AI. International forecasts suggest total power consumption by such facilities could approach 945 TWh by 2030 – comparable to a country like Japan – with AI workloads expected to occupy about 70 % of installed capacity by the end of the decade. Power density is projected to climb from roughly 150 kW per rack today to potentially one megawatt per rack, forcing a redesign of cooling and power infrastructure.

The European Union has introduced transparency obligations for data centres that draw more than 500 kW, and Spain is implementing its own measures through a specific Royal Decree due in 2026. The decree sets mandatory key‑performance‑indicators and tight deadlines for operators to improve energy efficiency. To meet the targets, the industry is shifting from traditional air cooling to liquid‑cooling solutions and exploring ways to reuse waste heat for district heating networks.