Future-proofing data centres through efficiency, sustainability, and resilience
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, data centres are pivotal to global technology infrastructure and supply chains, and face increasingly complex regulation. The strategic decisions made now – on operating models, sustainability frameworks, technology investments and how facilities are sited, powered, governed and secured – will shape efficiency, environmental performance and resilience for years to come.
This Insight series offers an integrated, end-to-end view of how these factors connect and the legal requirements that govern them. We analyse current trends and future prospects and offer practical, comprehensive commentary for businesses involved in data centre projects to help build robust, future-proof facilities.
Explore our Insights to help build strategies that meet regulatory demands while driving innovation and sustainability across the data centre industry.
Data centres now sit at the crossroads of regulation, innovation and sustainability; the real differentiator is turning that complexity into strategic clarity with a 360° approach across the full lifecycle. Łukasz Węgrzyn - Partner, Head of IT and Data, Osborne Clarke Poland
EU and UK financing trends are reshaping data centre projects
Finance is now a design decision for EU and UK data centres. Sustainability pressures, high-density compute and changing market conditions are raising complexity and capital expenditure, turning the capital stack into a lever for bankability and cost of capital.
Funding requires orchestration across planning, construction and operation by blending senior and mezzanine debt, debt capital markets, equity, alternative credit and asset finance, and when to choose project finance over corporate finance. Environmental, social and governance metrics can also unlock green bonds and sustainability-linked loans, while there are EU and UK legal steps that can speed credit approval. And there are lender requirements to consider and bankability fundamentals, such as location, resilient power and cooling, heat "offtake" and customer offtake.
How should data centre operators manage artificial intelligence compliance risk in the EEA?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming data centre operations, but the EU AI Act now reaches into the "data hall" and creates real obligations for operators. Regulatory expectations are rising and the regime will evolve, yet meeting them can strengthen resilience and trust.
How does the EU AI Act "bite" in a data centre, especially when used in safety components of critical digital infrastructure and what does this means for documentation, event logging, human oversight, accuracy, robustness and cybersecurity? How can operations and contracts be aligned to support customer compliance? And why can adopting high risk standards for lower-risk systems future-proof portfolios and reduce compliance risk across the European Economic Area without slowing delivery?
Beyond the grid: how Europe's data centre sector is navigating its green energy options
Power is the pinch point for data centre growth. With AI demand surging, grids under strain and scrutiny rising, green energy is now a route to lower cost, stable supply and greater resilience. Regulatory and market pressures are intensifying but adapting to sustainability standards can unlock clear economic gains.
Leading operators are reshaping procurement for real-world 24/7 operations, from on-site generation and long-term power purchase agreements to storage and smarter-certificate strategies. But there are pitfalls to avoid and some clear signals to watch out for in EU and UK policy. Those scaling capacity or refreshing their energy portfolios, will be looking to follow a practical map to ensure credible decisions that deliver both performance and sustainability.
Sustainable data centre development in the EU: added value or legal requirement?
Sustainability is now crucial for data centre growth across the EU and the UK. With AI demand rising, grids and water systems under strain and scrutiny increasing, cleaner choices are a route to lower cost, steadier supply, reduced risk and stronger investor appeal. The pressure is rising and, in the EU, many requirements are already law.
How are leading operators running their round-the-clock operations to meet new rules and deliver value? For those siting capacity, upgrading sites or refreshing contracts, there are a swathe of EU frameworks to cut through, including the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the emerging "Blue Deal" and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, known as CS3D.
How data centre developers and investors can approach strategic real estate considerations in Europe
The designation of data centres as critical and essential infrastructure in the UK and EU brings tighter risk management and enhanced reporting and oversight, reshaping the real estate lifecycle from site selection and planning through construction, operations and exit. Site choices should balance latency, power and connectivity with robust security and resilience, with due diligence extending to climate and flood risk, energy and water use, and wider environmental impacts.
Planning and permitting are also becoming more demanding, often requiring security consultations that can extend timelines and add confidentiality constraints. Land controls such as agricultural land restrictions and public pre-emption rights can also affect feasibility and deal structures. Successful projects will depend on a coordinated, holistic real estate strategy from the outset that integrates site evaluation, early engagement with local communities and planning authorities, infrastructure design and regulatory compliance.
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