At the Digital Infra Leaders’ Forum Europe in June 2024, a group of operator C-suite, and hyperscaler leadership, unpacked global data centre power demand forecasts, many of which vary but are consistently at +30% CAGR. The main growth drivers are cloud demand powered by AI adoption, data localisation & regulation, power source availability & location, and high speed connectivity & international links. We expand on the growth drivers in this keynote and look ahead to the next generation of DC demand across Europe, as unprecedented end-user demand shakes the core of the data centre space.

Lex Coors is a prominent leader in sustainable data center infrastructure, recognized as the "spiritual father" of modular data center design since 1999. This pioneering approach, introduced during his tenure at Interxion and later Digital Realty, has set a standard for scalable, energy-efficient data centers, significantly influencing industry norms. Over his 30-year career, Lex has overseen the development of over 70 data centers, amounting to approximately 600,000 m² of gross space across Western Europe and Africa. As President of the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA) and a key figure in the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, Lex advocates for carbon neutrality by 2030, emphasizing renewable energy, cooling innovations, and resource-efficient design. His work as Chief Data Center Technology and Engineering Officer at Digital Realty further underscores his commitment to environmental stewardship and technological advancement. Lex is also involved with the European Union’s SMR workgroup and Hydrogen Alliance, focusing on sustainable power solutions.