Knight Frank, a global real estate adviser, has published its global data centers report, revealing a surge in market expansion, with a projected 46 percent increase in data center capacity worldwide by 2027. This equates to an additional 20,828 megawatts.
This rapid growth, which has the potential to expand 177 percent by 2030, is underpinned by a substantial capital expenditure of £229 billion ($304 billion) during the forecast period, reflecting the intensifying demand for digital infrastructure to support AI, cloud computing and enterprise digital transformation.
Following a 36 percent drop in data center transaction volumes in 2023 due to global interest rate hikes, the market rebounded in 2024, surging 118 percent to £24.5 billion ($33 billion) across single-asset purchases, portfolio acquisitions, redevelopment opportunities and development site sales.
North America remains the dominant global market, with 11,638 megawatts in new capacity, reflecting a
