A new market report from Danish Data Center Industry shows that growth in the Danish data center market is set to continue, driven by rising demand for AI, cloud, and digital infrastructure. At the same time, it highlights a gap between grid connection queues and what is likely to be built.
The Danish Data Center Market Report 2026 estimates that total installed capacity in Denmark will reach around 1.2 GW by 2030. This stands in contrast to the roughly 14–15 GW currently reflected in Energinet’s connection queue.
“If you look at the queue alone, you get a misleading picture of what will actually be built. It combines projects with very different levels of maturity, and many will never be realized,” says Merima Dzanic, Head of Strategy & Operations at Danish Data Center Industry. “The pressure on the grid is real, but the queue is not a forecast. It reflects applications, not actual deployment.”
From pipeline to execution: what actually gets built
The report confirms that demand is accelerating across Europe, particularly driven by AI workloads, cloud adoption, and increasing requirements around data sovereignty.
“We’re not just seeing a shift in demand, but also a shift in what is needed. AI is driving more compute-intensive workloads, and that changes both scale and timing,” says Merima Dzanic.
Meanwhile, the market is entering a more execution-driven phase. While demand continues to grow, development is increasingly shaped by access to power, project maturity, and the ability to move projects forward.
A strategic question for Denmark and Europe
For Danish Data Center Industry, the findings point to a broader shift in how data center development should be understood.
“This is becoming a question of execution, not just demand,” says Henrik Hansen, CEO of Danish Data Center Industry. “Digital infrastructure underpins everything from business operations to public services and AI development. If capacity is not built here, it will be built elsewhere. That makes planning, prioritization, and infrastructure development critical.”
Data centers as part of the energy system
The report highlights how data centers are increasingly integrated into the energy system through long-term renewable energy agreements.
“In Denmark, data centers have already supported more than 560 MW of new renewable capacity,” says Henrik Hansen, “That’s an important part of the picture and often overlooked in the debate. Going forward, data centers can help drive the green transition by financing PPAs and enabling new renewable production in the grid.”
A timing gap between infrastructure and demand
A key finding is the growing mismatch between infrastructure timelines and market demand. Data centers can typically be developed within 18–36 months, while grid connection timelines often extend to 5–10 years. This creates a structural gap between demand and the ability to deliver capacity. Solving the digital–energy equation will be critical to unlocking the next phase of growth for this sector.
The Danish Data Center Market Report 2026 is available to members of Danish Data Center Industry via the member area.
The Danish Data Center Market report is an annual report published by the Danish Data Center Industry.
Media can request a copy by contacting DDI.
For interviews and further information:
Christine Kjær Jacobsen
Head of Communication & Marketing
chja@datacenterindustrien.dk
+45 29 75 29 32
Merima Dzanic
Head of Strategy & Operations
merima@datacenterindustrien.dk
Contact us
Christine Kjær Jacobsen
Head of Marketing & Communication
chja@datacenterindustrien.dk
+45 2975 2932