EU Positions Poland as a Key Hub for Data Centre Growth

The European Union is accelerating the development of digital infrastructure, with Poland identified as one of the strategic locations for future data centre investments under the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) and the EU Strategic Roadmap.

EU Plans Up to Eight AI Gigafactories

Alongside its broader digital infrastructure ambitions, the EU is moving forward with plans to build a network of large-scale AI model training centres, known as AI gigafactories. Speaking during a Council of the EU meeting in Luxembourg, Poland’s Deputy Minister for Digital Affairs, Dariusz Standerski, said the Union could ultimately develop seven to eight AI gigafactories, surpassing the initial target of up to five facilities announced by the European Commission in early 2025.

Each facility is expected to be equipped with more than 100,000 AI chips, providing the computing power needed to train next-generation artificial intelligence models. According to Standerski, construction on the first wave of projects could begin in 2028, with a second phase of investments expected around 2030.

Poland in the Spotlight

As Europe aims to triple its computing capacity by 2035 to meet growing demand for cloud services and AI, Poland is increasingly being viewed as one of the most attractive destinations for new digital infrastructure investments.

According to Piotr Kowalski, Managing Director of the Polish Data Center Association (PLDCA), the initiative represents a significant milestone for Poland’s digital economy:

“We are facing a major transformation: Poland is the largest energy construction site in Europe, and EU plans clearly demonstrate that this process must go hand in hand with digitalisation. Without its own gigawatts of power, there is no such thing as sovereign artificial intelligence or a strong, crisis-proof economy. The draft CADA regulation is a signal to us that Brussels recognises this strategic intersection of technology and energy.”

Poland Moves Beyond Traditional Data Centre Markets

For years, Europe’s data centre sector has been concentrated in the FLAP-D markets — Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin. However, increasing energy constraints and limited development opportunities in these established hubs are driving investment toward new regions. Poland has been identified by the European Commission as one of the priority destinations for future digital infrastructure projects.

Kowalski believes the EU’s recognition could significantly strengthen Poland’s position:

“An official designation for Poland of this magnitude in EU documents is a strong signal for our market. It confirms that our country has unique geopolitical and economic conditions for building a regional base for artificial intelligence systems.”

Data Centre Acceleration Zones

A key pillar of the EU strategy is the introduction of Data Centre Acceleration Zones — designated areas intended to simplify permitting procedures, improve access to power infrastructure and enhance connectivity.

Under the proposed regulations, member states will be required to establish at least one such zone, while key permits would need to be issued within a maximum period of 12 months. The framework is designed to reduce administrative barriers and accelerate the delivery of critical digital infrastructure.

The zones will also place a strong emphasis on renewable energy integration, waste heat reuse and brownfield development, while supporting the EU’s broader goals around digital sovereignty and local data processing.

Solving the Energy Challenge

Access to reliable energy remains one of the sector’s greatest challenges. To address this, the EU plans to replace the current “first come, first served” grid connection model with a system that prioritises mature projects capable of rapid deployment.

New “use-it-or-lose-it” rules are also expected to prevent speculative reservations of grid capacity. Projects designated as Strategic Data Centre Projects will gain access to dedicated EU funding mechanisms and state aid opportunities, provided they meet strict requirements related to energy efficiency, water management, and grid flexibility.

A new certification framework for data centres is expected to be introduced between 2026 and 2027.

What It Means for Poland

Poland is already the largest data centre market in Central and Eastern Europe and is forecast to continue growing rapidly as demand for AI and cloud infrastructure expands. Industry forecasts suggest the country’s total data centre capacity could reach around 500 MW by 2030.

The anticipated growth of data centres and AI gigafactories is expected to create significant opportunities for Poland’s engineering, construction and energy sectors. Delivering these highly specialised facilities will require advanced expertise in power systems, cooling technologies, grid integration, sustainability and mission-critical infrastructure design.

As investment accelerates, demand is likely to increase for engineers, project managers, designers, and technical consultants capable of supporting large-scale digital infrastructure projects. This could further strengthen Poland’s position not only as a destination for data centre investments but also as a regional centre of engineering excellence for the AI and cloud computing industry.