According to the report, commercial data center capacity (colocation and hyperscale) will exceed 260 MW of IT power by the end of 2026. This growth is mainly driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, higher power densities and the further roll-out of hybrid cloud architectures.
Belgium benefits from its central location between major European hubs, strong national and international connectivity and a mature interconnection infrastructure. At the same time, the report points to clear areas for attention, in particular the availability of grid capacity, licensing procedures and the shortage of specialised technical profiles.
In terms of sustainability, Belgium is one of the European leaders. Data centers report low PUE values, make extensive use of renewable energy and implement heat reuse and energy-efficient designs. The introduction of the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) has made transparency and reporting standard practice.
The report concludes that Belgium is at an operational tipping point: the sector is shifting from announcements to effective delivery. With the right coordination between government, grid operators and industry, Belgium can further strengthen its position as a sustainable, AI-ready digital hub.