● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 neutral
Public backlash against data centers spreads to Europe and Asia, impacting investments
Key points
- Public opposition to data centers is spreading from the U.S. to Europe and Asia.
- Concerns include power consumption, water usage, and land requirements.
- Around $42 billion in European data center investments have been impacted.
- Over 70 European data center projects were rejected or restricted this year.
Global Spread of Data Center Opposition
Public backlash against data centers, previously concentrated in the U.S., is now extending to Europe and Asia. This growing negative sentiment is creating challenges for investors in the data center sector.
In Europe, densely populated areas and higher electricity prices contribute to increased opposition. Similar tensions are emerging in South Korea, where proposals for tighter local restrictions are surfacing despite national government efforts to accelerate development.
Investment Impacts and Project Delays
Research from STL Partners indicates that public opposition has affected approximately $42 billion of data center investments in Europe through delays and cancellations. This follows an estimated $77 billion impact in the U.S.
Between January and April, over 70 data center projects in Europe faced rejection or restrictions, exceeding the total for all of 2025, according to the European Data Center Monitor. This pushback has escalated from local town halls to courts, regulators, and parliaments.
Regional Restrictions and Policy Changes
Scotland has paused planning approvals for new hyperscale data centers following calls from campaigners. Denmark passed an emergency law that could prioritize other grid power applications over data centers after a surge in power requests.
Spain proposed new rules requiring data centers to source 80% of their electricity from renewables. Projects in the U.K. have also stalled due to local opposition.
Core Concerns Driving Opposition
The primary concerns fueling public opposition revolve around water usage, power consumption, electricity prices, and the large land footprint required by data centers. There is also a lack of consensus on the number of permanent jobs created by the sector and how to project its economic value per megawatt.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Public opposition to data centers, initially prominent in the U.S., is now growing in Europe and Asia, leading to project delays and cancellations. This pushback is driven by concerns over power consumption, water usage, and land requirements, posing risks for data center investors globally.