Germany Plans Massive Data Centre Expansion to Fuel AI Growth by 2030
Germany is set to expand its data centre capacity significantly by 2030. The government has announced plans to double current levels while also boosting AI computing power by at least four times. New policies will speed up construction and cut costs for operators in the sector.
In 2025, Germany’s data centres reached an IT connection capacity of 2,980 megawatts. Much of this growth has come from high-performance facilities with outputs above five megawatts. To keep up with demand, the government now aims to double overall capacity within five years.
The Bundesdigitalministerium (Federal Digital Ministry) will introduce a new system for allocating grid connections. This includes Flexible Connection Agreements (FCA), replacing the old 'first-come, first-served' approach. The change is designed to make it easier and faster to build new data centres by 2030. Financial incentives are also part of the plan. Data centres will benefit from lower CO₂ costs through the EU’s electricity price compensation scheme. Additionally, the government will push for tax breaks on transferring waste heat from these facilities, reducing operational expenses for companies. The push for expansion ties into broader goals for AI development. Germany wants to increase its AI computing power capacity by at least fourfold, requiring more robust data infrastructure to support the technology’s growth.
The new measures will ease grid access, cut costs, and speed up data centre development. With tax relief and flexible connection rules, operators can expand more quickly. The changes also align with Germany’s push to strengthen its position in AI and high-performance computing.
