The land market for data centers is experiencing an unprecedented boom driven by the momentum of artificial intelligence and the adoption of cloud services. In the second half of 2025, this sector has reached a tipping point, with sky-high prices due to the growing demand from the major tech companies such as AWS, Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and Meta. These companies seek land with immediate access to energy resources and connectivity, elements that are increasingly scarce.
Spain, in particular, is emerging as a key point in the global market. Areas around Madrid, such as San Sebastián de los Reyes, Alcalá de Henares, and Getafe, are seeing a 35% increase in land prices, driven by the interest of tech giants. Other cities such as Barcelona, Valencia and Zaragoza are also attracting attention for their good connectivity and regulatory advances.
Globally, regions with access to energy resources and agile permits have become the most coveted destinations. This has led to land near electrical substations in places like Frankfurt and Northern Virginia reaching prices up to four times higher than 18 months ago. Moreover, developers are targeting areas with access to water and high-speed fiber-optic connections, which is driving interest in markets such as the Nordics.
Madrid is consolidating itself as the most prominent data center in Southern Europe, thanks to its balance of costs, favorable climate, and proactive legislation. Lisbon is also gaining traction, especially for operations that seek to connect with Latin America and Africa.
The sector is now heavily influenced by energy contracts and strategic alliances. The agreements are closed by first guaranteeing the electricity supply, a significant transformation in the business model. This approach is already being applied in various projects in Spain, highlighting the need to collaborate with energy companies and local authorities.
For promoters and investors, the data center market presents itself as a core asset, outperforming other traditional sectors. For governments, the streamlining of procedures and the securing of clean energy have become strategic priorities to attract technological investments.
Looking to the future, Spain and Portugal are emerging as key players in connectivity in the South Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In Latin America, Chile and Colombia emerge as vital entry points for the U.S. clouds, while in Africa and Asia-Pacific, countries like South Africa, Malaysia, and Thailand are seeing growth in interest in their soil.
In conclusion, the control of the soil-energy binomial has become a critical factor in mastering the future of data. Spain has entered the global stage with force, and the price of land needed to support the cloud continues its unstoppable rise.
More information and references in Cloud News.
