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Poor Grid Planning Threatens Europe’s Data Centre Hubs, Ember Report Warns

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Europe’s top data centre locations, including Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin, risk losing their dominance unless governments improve long-term grid planning, according to a new report released Thursday by energy think-tank Ember.

The surge in demand for data centres, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its energy-intensive computing needs, is shifting investment priorities. Developers are increasingly choosing locations with faster and easier access to electricity, rather than remaining loyal to traditional hubs plagued by long grid connection delays.

The report warns that by 2035, up to 50% of Europe’s data centre capacity could relocate outside the current main hubs. This could divert billions of euros in economic activity to emerging markets, with significant implications for GDP and job creation. For example, data centres in Germany generated €10.4 billion in GDP in 2024 — a figure expected to more than double by 2029. Losing momentum in such a high-growth sector could harm economic prospects in these countries.

While France is likely to retain investment due to a relatively unconstrained grid, others could suffer delays of up to 13 years in connecting new data centres. The average wait time in the legacy hubs is 7–10 years, compared to only 3 years in Italy and even less in some emerging regions.

“Grids are ultimately deciding where investments go,” said Elisabeth Cremona, Senior Energy Analyst at Ember. “If Europe wants to maintain its competitiveness and achieve economic growth, it must prioritise grid development.”

She emphasized that the issue extends beyond data centres to all sectors undergoing electrification. Without updated grid infrastructure, industries could struggle to scale or relocate entirely to regions with faster energy access.

Electricity demand from data centres is projected to triple in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark by 2030, and increase three- to fivefold in Austria, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Slovakia by 2035.

The findings highlight an urgent need for European policymakers to treat grid planning as a strategic investment tool, not just a utility service, in order to retain tech-sector leadership and support industrial transformation.

NAACP Threatens Legal Action Against Elon Musk’s xAI Over Memphis Data Center Pollution

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The NAACP, in coordination with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), has issued a formal notice to Elon Musk’s AI company xAI, signaling its intent to sue over alleged violations of federal environmental laws tied to air pollution in South Memphis.

According to the SELC’s notice sent Tuesday, xAI has deployed methane gas turbines at its Memphis data center without the necessary permits or installation of “best available” pollution control technology. These turbines are reportedly in violation of the Clean Air Act, and their emissions, the SELC claims, are worsening already poor air quality in the predominantly Black and underserved Memphis community.

Key Allegations:

  • xAI installed 35 gas turbines, nearly all operating without required environmental permits as of April.

  • Though the company has since removed some smaller turbines, it also installed three larger units recently, further escalating emissions.

  • The SELC and NAACP argue that methane pollution from these turbines poses a significant public health risk, as methane is a potent greenhouse gas.

“These turbines have pumped out pollution that threatens the health of Memphis families,” said Patrick Anderson, Senior Attorney at SELC.
“This notice paves the way for a lawsuit that can hold xAI accountable for its unlawful refusal to get permits for its gas turbines.”

xAI has responded, stating that its temporary power generation units are in compliance with applicable laws and that the company is committed to environmental responsibility. However, critics argue the startup is leveraging fossil-fuel-based infrastructure to rapidly scale AI computing power, reflecting an industry-wide challenge where AI’s energy demands outpace clean energy development.

Broader Context:

Data centers powering AI systems require vast and continuous electricity. As demand grows, energy-hungry AI firms increasingly rely on natural gas and coal-powered infrastructure, especially in areas with underdeveloped clean energy grids.

This case is likely to bring broader scrutiny to the environmental footprint of AI startups and could set a precedent for how environmental justice intersects with big tech’s rapid expansion into communities with historically poor air quality.

Apple Supplier Jabil Lifts Annual Forecast Amid AI-Driven Data Center Boom

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Jabil Inc., a major electronics components manufacturer and key supplier to Apple, has raised its full-year profit and revenue forecasts, citing soaring demand for data center infrastructure driven by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence technologies.

The company’s shares rose approximately 5% in premarket trading on Tuesday after it surpassed Wall Street expectations for its fiscal third quarter.

Highlights from the Report:

  • Fiscal 2025 revenue forecast raised to $29 billion from $27.9 billion.

  • Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) outlook increased to $9.33, up from $8.95.

  • Q3 revenue rose 15.7% year-over-year to $7.83 billion, beating analyst expectations of $7.06 billion (LSEG data).

  • Adjusted Q3 EPS was $2.55, above the expected $2.31.

Strategic Investment:

Jabil also announced a $500 million investment in the United States over the coming years to expand support for cloud and AI data center infrastructure customers, underscoring the company’s strategic pivot toward high-growth digital infrastructure markets.

CEO Mike Dastoor emphasized the momentum:

“Our intelligent infrastructure segment remains a critical growth engine, benefiting from accelerating AI-driven demand.”

This performance positions Jabil as a key player in the supply chain supporting the global AI boom, and its forward-looking strategy appears aimed at securing long-term growth through investments in infrastructure and technology innovation.