Latest news and stories about data centers in infrastructure in Portugal for expats and residents.
An analysis of the infrastructure, energy demands, and strategic requirements necessary for Portugal to compete in the global artificial intelligence sector.
The Portuguese government has unveiled its National Data Centre Plan to boost digital infrastructure investment, receiving cautious optimism from industry experts who emphasize the critical need for effective execution.
A report highlights that data centres across Portugal use twice as much electricity as all residential homes in Lisbon combined.
The planned centres already have authorisation for grid connection, but the minister warns of high demand. The Abrantes case is “special” due to the closure of the Pego Power Plant in 2021.
The National Data Centre Plan already requires consumption reporting, but does not set binding limits for energy, water, or efficiency. Zero is concerned about the overlap with acceleration zones.
The Schwarz group, owner of the Lidl and Kaufland supermarket chains, will invest 5.6 billion euros in the construction of a data centre near Rostock, in northern Germany, which will be powered by wind energy. The Schwarz group announced this Thursday that it plans to build a data centre with a capacity of 240 megawatts by 2033. “Digital sovereignty is not achieved through appeals or speeches. It is conquered with actions, reliable infrastructure, and practical applications,” said Schwarz group CEO Gerd Chrzanowski. The owner of Lidl and Kaufland is already building a data centre in Lübbenau, Brandenburg, near Berlin, to meet the company's own needs, a project that will receive an investment of 11 billion euros, the largest single investment in the company's history. The Schwarz group, which employs 600,000 people worldwide, is known for its Lidl and Kaufland supermarkets, but also owns an IT services division called Schwarz Digits, which offers cybersecurity and cloud services. Schwarz wants to position itself as a European alternative to technology consortia from other continents. Data centre capacity in Portugal rises by 23%, placing the country in the global top 10.
A giant infrastructure of data centres is required to process all the information generated, especially by AI.
A report suggests that the energy demand from data centres may reach 50% of Portugal's total electricity consumption.
Nuvem, Google's new transatlantic submarine cable connecting the United States to Portugal, was launched this Tuesday, July 21, at the Lisbon Oceanarium. This state-of-the-art infrastructure links Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Sines, with intermediate landing points in Bermuda and the Azores. The project aims to create a strategic and more resilient route for North Atlantic connections, marking the first direct submarine cable link between the US and Portugal. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to position Portugal as a hub for data centres, artificial intelligence, and innovation, reinforcing Europe's digital sovereignty.
On EDP's 50th anniversary, the CEO believes that data centres and renewables will sustain the future. He guarantees that the utility company has known how to adapt to changes and that company acquisitions are always a possibility.
The AI and data centers boom cannot be allowed to become a race to the bottom.
Europe's digital geography is undergoing a profound structural shift. Historically dependent on the FLAP axis (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, and Paris), global data traffic is rapidly migrating south. According to DE-CIX, the European interconnection infrastructure giant, Southern Europe has transitioned from a peripheral zone to the continent's primary digital gateway. The Iberian Peninsula, in particular, is being hailed as the world's first 'distributed digital capital,' a decentralized network model supported by a highly complementary infrastructure triangle between Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon. This ecosystem now features over 100 data centres and 35 submarine cable systems, with Lisbon serving as a strategic entry point for transatlantic connections, including the EllaLink cable that links South America directly to Portugal, bypassing the need for data routing through the United States.
The major infrastructure projects already underway or announced for Portugal, such as the high-speed train, the new Lisbon airport and all its connections to the capital, data centre projects for Sines, and some hospital units (such as the Hospital de Todos os Santos in...)
The expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may soon take it into space, with Google and Elon Musk at the centre of the discussion. According to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to the matter, Google and SpaceX are in talks to potentially place data centres in orbit around the Earth. This evolution is a goal previously defined by Elon Musk. Google has been installing data centres worldwide, including plans for one in the Azores, and is now considering placing others in space through a partnership with SpaceX. Musk claims that orbital data centres would be cheaper than those on the ground. This potential agreement follows a deal between SpaceX and Anthropic, allowing the creator of Claude to use the xAI data centre in Memphis. Meanwhile, SpaceX is preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) with an estimated valuation of 1.75 trillion dollars, while Alphabet, Google's parent company, remains one of the 'Magnificent Seven' on Wall Street.
Portugal is set to expand its data centre capacity by 2.6 gigawatts, bolstering its strategic role within the European digital infrastructure landscape.
Home Business Portugal’s Data Center Plan Could Be a Turning Point Portugal’s Data Center Plan Could Be a Turning Point Sometimes the most important developments for a country do not make front-page headlines.
Portugal is becoming a key connectivity centre thanks to a strong mix of strategic factors.
My last essay (The Resident, October 15, 2025) presented a somewhat apprehensive overview of the prospects for astonishing growth in a cyber industry which is destined to make Portugal a The post Portuguese data centres – vulnerability to attack appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Home Opinion Portuguese Data Centres – Vulnerability to Attack Portuguese Data Centres – Vulnerability to Attack _An essay by Roberto Cavaleiro_ in Opinion, Business · 2 hours ago · 0 Comments Credits: Supplied Image;Author: Roberto Cavaleiro; My last essay ( TPN 14-10-2025) presented a somewhat
The executive considers that the country presents a solid set of structural conditions, namely in terms of energy, connectivity, and territorial availability.
It is estimated that global electricity production to power data centres will grow by more than 280% by 2035, and that natural gas and coal will meet more than 40% of the additional electricity demand from data centres by 2030. From 2030 onwards, small modular reactors (SMRs) are expected to enter the scene, the...
