Romania is emerging as a promising destination for data centre investments, supported by a mix of favourable economic, technological, and geographic conditions, according to a recent analysis by real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. The country offers a compelling value proposition for developers and operators looking to expand capacity in Europe, particularly in secondary markets that offer fewer entry barriers and greater long-term growth potential. One of Romania’s key advantages lies in its diversified energy mix. Over half of the country’s electricity comes from renewable sources, supported by a stable and reliable power grid. Additionally, the country’s investment in high-speed optical fibre infrastructure has enhanced internet quality and connectivity, both essential for data centre operations. Workforce availability also strengthens Romania’s competitive position. The country boasts a skilled IT labour pool and competitive employment costs, alongside cybersecurity standards aligned with European regulations. These factors, combined with national digitalisation initiatives and EU-supported programmes, create a favourable environment for the expansion of data centre capacity. Environmental conditions further enhance Romania’s appeal. The temperate climate allows for efficient cooling using natural technologies, reducing operational costs and environmental impact. While land typically accounts for a smaller share of total development costs, Romania’s availability of competitively priced plots in low-risk areas adds to its attractiveness for long-term investments. Despite strong global growth in the data centre sector, Romania’s current installed capacity remains modest, at under 100 megawatts (MW). However, local market fundamentals indicate strong potential. According to Laura Bordianu, Data Analyst in the Research Department at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, Romania presents a favourable entry point for international developers seeking to benefit from the conditions of an emerging market. She points to regions beyond Bucharest—such as Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași—as having the infrastructure, talent, and digital connectivity needed to support future expansion. At present, Romania’s data centre market is primarily served by domestic operators, with smaller-scale facilities. There are currently 59 data centres across the country, 27 of which are in Bucharest. Other notable clusters include Timișoara with nine centres, Cluj-Napoca with eight, and Brașov with four. A major development is underway in Mișchii, Dolj County, where Cluster Power is building the largest hyperscale data centre in Romania, planned to reach 200 MW of operational capacity. Cloud services are a major global driver of data centre demand. In mature markets, platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud account for significant shares of capacity—40% in the Americas and 25% in the EMEA region. However, Romania currently lacks the presence of such large-scale cloud operators, representing both a gap and a growth opportunity for future entrants. Globally, the data centre industry continues to expand rapidly, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), cloud adoption, and digital transformation across sectors. Major tech companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle are accelerating infrastructure development worldwide to meet increasing demand. Established data centre markets in Western Europe, North America, and Asia are facing growing challenges, such as high land prices, strict sustainability regulations, rising energy costs, and limited power availability. These constraints are prompting operators and investors to shift attention towards secondary markets where expansion is more feasible. The EMEA region has seen a surge in data centre activity, reaching approximately 9.4 gigawatts (GW) of live operational capacity. An additional 2.9 GW is currently under construction, with 8.7 GW in the planning stages—indicating a total pipeline growth of about 16% year-on-year. The main hubs—Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin (FLAPD)—continue to lead the region, with London alone accounting for 1.14 GW of capacity. Milan is also emerging as a key player with 990 MW of live and pipeline capacity. Market growth is being driven by a combination of colocation providers such as Equinix, Digital Realty, NTT Global Data Centers, and Colt Data Centre Services, and hyperscale operators including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta. These firms are investing heavily in large-scale infrastructure to support the next generation of cloud and AI-driven services. Romania’s combination of strategic location, renewable energy capacity, skilled labour, and underdeveloped market conditions positions it as a strong candidate for future data centre expansion in Central and Eastern Europe. Photo: Laura Bordianu, Data Analyst - Research Department at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox