Data Centres Ireland 2025

Data Centres Ireland 2025 – Key Insights and Market Outlook

First Point Group attended the largest event dedicated to the data centre (DC) market, in the Republic of Ireland - DataCentres Ireland. Decision makers not only from the DC market but also from the world of investment attended, and the discussions focused on investment-driven growth and talent demand across not just Ireland but mainland Europe, the Nordics and even US. There was particularly emphasis for senior roles such as Project Managers and Heads of Department.

Event Highlights

• Europe’s Growth Potential

From the sessions we attended, it was emphasized that Europe has untapped opportunities due to lower power costs (when compared to other regions globally) and the scope for AI-driven expansion. However, the region lags behind the US in scale and speed. It was noted that “hiring elitism” limits progress, and cross-sector recruitment (e.g., oil & gas) can add significant value.

• Market Share & Constraints

Europe is experiencing a decline in global share (from 25% to 15%) as the US and China accelerate. Regulatory hurdles, tax, and permitting slow progress. Power, land, and connectivity remain critical constraints, making innovation in micro-grids, flexible loads, and renewable integration essential. The importance of early talent engagement and strong development cultures is extremely important and can’t be underestimated.

• Talent Challenges

It’s no secret of the global skills shortage, but combined with an aging workforce, and low female representation (just 8%), there are challenges being experienced across the DC market worldwide. Companies must rethink attraction, training, and retention strategies, including sourcing from adjacent industries and adopting creative acquisition approaches.

Michael Aspinal and Lauren Eccles from First Point Group commented "The discussions at DataCentres Ireland highlighted that while investment-driven growth is surging across Europe, the Nordics, and the US, the bottleneck remains talent. We're seeing intense demand for senior leadership roles like Project Managers and Heads of Department. It's a critical global skills shortage, compounded by an aging workforce and low female representation. The old hiring model won't sustain growth; companies must urgently rethink attraction and retention, looking to adjacent sectors like oil & gas for transferable skills and building strong development cultures. Simply put, investing in people is no longer a luxury—it’s the cornerstone of future data centre expansion.""

Key Takeaways & Stats

• Europe is growing rapidly but needs power, talent, and streamlined regulation to maintain momentum.
• Companies that invest in people as well as infrastructure will lead the next phase.
• Future growth will hinge on renewable integration, flexibility, and smarter deployment.
• Europe: The European data centre market is projected to generate $123.85 billion in 2025, growing to $132 billion in 2026, driven by AI adoption and hyperscale expansion.
• Nordics: The Nordic market will reach $10.82 billion in 2025, rising to $11.6 billion in 2026, supported by renewable energy and sustainability initiatives.