Global data centre boom fuels race for power and construction capacity
JLL: capacity growth and energy challenges driven by demand from AI and cloud workloads.
7 January 2026
A global data centre expansion fuelled by artificial intelligence and cloud computing is set to reshape development priorities through 2026 and beyond, with 100 GW of new capacity forecast to be delivered by 2030, according to JLL’s latest outlook.
The report warns that grid delays, rising construction costs and complex infrastructure demands are pushing operators and developers to rethink how, and where, they build.
Construction costs have already risen from $7.7 million per MW in 2020 to $10.7 million in 2025, and are forecast to climb another 6% in 2026. Labour shortages and demand for specialised facilities are driving further escalation, forcing many developers to prioritise speed to power and secure sites with shorter connection lead times.
At the heart of the boom is artificial intelligence. AI workloads are expected to account for half of all data centre activity by 2030, shifting from large-scale training to inference — a change that will require more distributed, regional facilities with higher power densities.
That shift is altering design and delivery strategies. JLL notes that operators are increasingly turning to behind-the-meter energy solutions, battery storage and on-site renewables to overcome grid constraints, particularly in Europe and Asia where natural gas is less viable. In some markets, developers are being required to ‘bring their own power’ to proceed.
The result is a new breed of data centre — larger, more expensive, and more integrated with energy infrastructure. While the sector is projected to create $1.2 trillion in new real estate value by 2030, tenant IT fit-outs could push the total investment past $3 trillion.
Despite the scale of the opportunity, barriers to entry are rising. JLL’s analysis suggests development will increasingly be concentrated among experienced, well-capitalised firms able to manage risk and deliver at scale.
For construction teams, the challenge is clear: deliver faster, greener and with greater resilience — or risk being left behind in what’s being called the largest infrastructure investment cycle in decades.
