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Paweł Olszynka, ICT Business Unit Director, PMR:

Data centres are one of the most rapidly growing, but at the same time energy-intensive and power consuming sectors of the economy. The Polish data centre market is now expected to triple its power resources by 2030. PMR forecasts indicate that operators in Poland will have a total of at least 500 MW of data centre power capacity by 2030. The main challenges for the industry in the next few years are related to regulatory factors emphasising a low carbon footprint, sustainability and the need for detailed reporting. The expansion of AI and the development of the wholesale market will force an increase in the use of liquid cooling. The very centre part of the investment map will remain Warsaw and its suburbs.

This material was prepared on the basis of the latest 2024 edition of PMR’s flagship and comprehensive report on the data centre market, issued continuously since 2010: Data centre market in Poland 2024. Market analysis and development forecasts for 2024-2029

Poland is the development hub of the entire Central European region and by far the largest and most dynamically growing data centre market. The Polish market is already home to global players such as Equinix (Poland), EdgeConneX, DATA4 and Vantage Data Centers – as well as hyperscale investors (Microsoft, Google).

Financial investors (funds and banks financing the DC industry) keep close eye on the Polish market. Atman has recently obtained the largest amount of funding in Poland for the expansion of its data centres. The agreement signed by six financial institutions from Poland and Europe in Q2 2024 is worth a total of PLN 1.35bn. The loan is intended to finance the construction of a new campus called WAW-3 in Duchnice near Warsaw and the expansion of the existing colocation facilities.

Last year, for the first time, the ratio of rented floor space to available space for the entire Polish market was higher for the largest facilities than the market average. This is due to the fact that major investment projects are almost 100% sold out (EdgeConneX, DATA4). Currently, Atman also has a very high occupancy rate. Information obtained directly from the market leader shows that it has sold out 91% of its facilities, which is a surge of as much as 20 p.p. compared to 2022.