Bucharest has placed 21st in the Savills Power and Place Index Top 30, a global ranking that assesses cities with the strongest potential for future data centre development. The index evaluates locations based on criteria including energy availability, telecommunications infrastructure, access to resources and project delivery capability.
"While traditional European hubs are facing increasing constraints related to energy access, land availability and development restrictions, Bucharest is emerging as a well-positioned market for the next wave of investments in digital infrastructure supporting AI development. For data centre investors, access to power and connectivity is becoming just as important as location itself," said Emilian Podaru, MRICS, Head of Industrial and Logistics at Crosspoint Real Estate, the international associate of Savills in Romania.
According to Crosspoint Real Estate, Romania benefits from high fibre-optic coverage, competitive internet speeds and affordable data service costs. A current disadvantage is the cost of electricity, though the planned commissioning of the Iernut and Mintia power plants, alongside projected energy storage facilities, could improve the country's attractiveness for this segment. Data consumption is also growing rapidly across Romania and the Central and Eastern European region, driven by cloud services, economic digitalisation and the integration of artificial intelligence into business operations.
The Savills report, Global Data Centres: Where the Next Wave of AI Capacity Will Be Built, notes that global investment in data centres has reached record levels, driven by hyperscale operators and AI-related demand. Many established European hubs are already experiencing limitations in power grid capacity, land availability and permitting, creating opportunities for emerging markets. Savills estimates that data centre expansion could generate additional demand for approximately 790,000 sqm of logistics space across Europe over the next three years.
"For projects linked to the AI economy, investors simultaneously evaluate access to power, digital infrastructure, phased expansion potential and speed of implementation. Cities that can demonstrate these advantages will be better positioned to attract capital in the years ahead," said Podaru.
