Data centre design: five steps to a sustainable future

The European AI market is predicted to grow by 15.9% over the next 5 years. This is creating a considerable demand for infrastructure to train and deploy the next generation of AI technologies. As a result, data centre operators are renovating and upgrading their infrastructure significantly, and many are taking steps to build new facilities altogether.  

In fact, the number of hyperscalers is expected to grow by 50% from 2024 to 2030.  

While operators can update or develop infrastructure, those building new campuses must be aware of the environmental implications and keep sustainability at the forefront of their plans. By considering the following steps, operators can strike a balance between operational reliability and sustainability, while designing a data centre that can keep up with constantly changing technologies such as AI.  

The challenge  

Recent shifts in customer needs have shaped new considerations for data centre design and development, and the rapid growth of technologies like AI has been a major driver. Customers increasingly demand flexible and scalable colocation facilities that can support new applications, expand cloud adoption, and accommodate data growth and digital transformation. The explosion of AI has also increased the demand for high-power computing, raising concerns about the quantity of energy that data centres need to run on, leading to increased scrutiny over energy and water use. 

When building a smart data centre, or enhancing an existing one, operators should consider the following steps to ensure their facility is both sustainable and addressing customers' ever-changing needs.  

Five steps to a future-proof data centre: 

1. Prioritise scalability and flexibility

Customers are progressively demanding flexible and scalable colocation solutions to allow for business growth. This creates a need for stable and resilient IT infrastructures that consistently deliver and deploy everyday workloads at scale. Meeting this demand means operators must prioritise equipping their data centres with ample rack space to give customers the flexibility to scale IT resources up or down where necessary. It’s also important for operators to provide customised solutions such as private cages or cross-connectors to give customers the freedom to choose features for their facility to suit their individual needs. 

This approach allows customers to adjust their infrastructure as needs evolve, while playing a crucial role in supporting new applications, expanding cloud adoption, and accommodating data growth and digital transformation.   

2. Adopt a green-by-design approach to sustainability

Environmental responsibility is no longer optional, it must be embedded into every aspect of a data centre’s design, construction, and operation. A green-by-design approach means considering sustainability from the outset, not treating it as a bolt-on solution once the facility is operational.

Operators are now investing heavily in renewable energy infrastructure as part of their long-term strategy. This includes deploying on-site photovoltaic systems, integrating hydroelectric power where geography permits, and forming energy supply agreements that guarantee clean, low-impact energy sources. By producing or directly sourcing renewable energy, operators can significantly reduce the carbon intensity of their operations and move closer to climate-neutral goals.

Across the sector, many operators are crucially aligning with industry-wide sustainability pledges, such as Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact and European Green Digital Coalition. These commitments, backed by independently audited frameworks, ensure measurable progress in sustainability efforts. Ultimately, a green-by-design philosophy is the most effective way to manage AI’s energy appetite while ensuring long-term environmental resilience and operational efficiency.

3. Choose the right location 

Location is another factor that can contribute to increased sustainability for data centres. For example, regional cloud providers are equipped with more flexible offerings and highly customised services, which is increasingly important among businesses requiring greater flexibility and customisable cloud services to adapt to their individual needs.  

Italy is emerging as a prime region for European operators to set up their data centres, as the Italian cloud market is set to rise to 15 billion euros by 2025. The Italian region has experienced significant investments from leading hyperscalers in recent years, representing an opportunity to accelerate the development of cloud and data centre offerings in the area.

4. Engineer for high-density workloads

The growth of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) is rapidly changing infrastructure requirements. These workloads demand high processing intensity and generate far more heat than traditional applications, putting pressure on conventional cooling and power systems. Operators must ensure their facilities can accommodate this new level of density and performance.

To meet this demand, operators must design facilities with high-density computing in mind from the outset. This includes adopting advanced cooling methods such as liquid cooling, which offers superior heat transfer capabilities compared to traditional air-cooling systems. By supporting power densities beyond 20 kW per rack, liquid cooling enables data centres to host next-generation GPUs and other AI-ready hardware efficiently and sustainably.

Planning for high-density workloads also means rethinking layout, airflow, and power distribution strategies to ensure performance does not come at the cost of energy efficiency or operational stability. Data centres that can support these evolving needs will be best positioned to serve organisations investing in AI, machine learning, and other compute-heavy innovations – both now and in the future.

     5.   Ensure regulatory compliance 

Finally, operators must adhere to regulatory frameworks and green certifications to ensure the legal compliance of their data centre. Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) require operators to implement strong encryption, secure data storage, and strict access controls to protect user data and privacy compliance. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ensures operators are energy efficient, reducing the environmental impact of their data centres.  

These standards enhance credibility, improve energy efficiency, and reduce carbon footprints, contributing to overall sustainability. By adhering to such laws, operators can enhance the security of their data centres, cut operational costs, and prepare for a sustainable future.  

A sustainable future  

The future of data centres will be defined by their ability to scale sustainably while supporting the next generation of digital technologies. As AI adoption accelerates and customer demands evolve, operators must take a long-term approach to infrastructure design, placing energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and adaptability at the heart of their strategy.

This means investing in renewable energy sources such as hydropower and solar, which can significantly reduce carbon emissions and help operators meet climate goals. It also requires deploying advanced cooling techniques – like liquid cooling – that are specifically designed to handle the increased thermal load of high-density computing environments, particularly those driven by AI and HPC workloads.

Looking ahead, emerging technologies offer even more potential for sustainable progress. Agentic AI systems will give data centres the ability to autonomously monitor and optimise their own resource consumption, while developments in quantum computing promise new efficiencies in both processing and energy use. Together, these innovations signal a future where performance and sustainability are no longer competing priorities, but interconnected drivers of progress.