Data centres in Spain: the new face of energy consumption

Data centres account for 355 MW in Spain, with Madrid holding 55% of capacity. An analysis of the sustainability challenges and opportunities.

Data centres have become the real protagonists of electricity consumption in Spain. Manufacturing and process industry remains the largest traditional energy user, but the rapid growth of the digital economy has put data centres at the centre of the energy debate, with an increasingly visible impact on the national grid.

How much do data centres consume in Spain?

In 2024, installed IT capacity in Spanish data centres reached around 355 MW, with Madrid accounting for close to 55% of national capacity. That makes the capital a leading digital hub in southern Europe, with a concentration of electricity consumption that calls for responsible, sustainable energy strategies.

Data centres consume so much energy because:

• Their servers run 24/7, without interruption.
• They require intensive cooling and climate control to prevent overheating.
• They need redundant and auxiliary infrastructure to guarantee service continuity.

That operating model makes data centres one of the most electricity-intensive sectors there is, and a strategic challenge for energy sustainability.

The immediate challenges

Data centres in Spain face several energy challenges that need addressing now:

• Reducing PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness), improving overall facility efficiency.
• Integrating renewables into their electricity supply to move towards decarbonisation.
• Optimising cooling with innovative technologies such as free cooling or liquid cooling.
• Meeting European and national regulation, which will require transparency in reporting energy and water consumption.

Opportunities for a sustainable future

Despite their high consumption, data centres also offer real opportunities to lead the energy transition:

1. Reusing waste heat for district heating and industrial processes.
2. Green PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) to secure renewable, stable electricity supply.
3. Demand-side management, participating in flexibility programmes that ease pressure on the grid.

With these approaches, data centres in Spain can become an example of energy efficiency and sustainability within the technology sector.

What about the other energy-intensive sectors?

Data centres hold much of the attention today, but manufacturing and process industry remains the country's largest energy consumer. Food, metallurgy, chemicals, steel and cement together consume more than a third of national electricity.

Transport and logistics, meanwhile, are starting to weigh more heavily on electricity consumption as fleets electrify and warehouses automate.

The picture shows that while Spain has several large energy consumers, data centres are setting the new trend and driving the debate about the country's energy future.

How GRUPO TREBOL ENERGIA works with data centres

At GRUPO TREBOL ENERGIA we work with large electro-intensive consumers and offer solutions built for the data centre sector:

• Energy audits, advisory and monitoring to identify inefficiencies in real time.
• Renewable PPAs, securing 100% green and competitive supply.
• Energy efficiency strategies that reduce PUE and optimise cooling processes.
• Regulatory and strategic advice, anticipating the requirements coming for the sector.
• Energy management and automation services for data centres.

Data centres are the new protagonists of energy consumption in Spain, and their role will be decisive in the shift to a more efficient, more sustainable model. At GRUPO TREBOL ENERGIA we put our experience at the sector's disposal, helping it grow responsibly while optimising consumption and securing a greener, more competitive future.