As technology dependence grows, with the development of artificial intelligence, 5G networks or quantum computing as maximum exponents, it also grows the relevance of the data centers. But not only with regard to its function in the connectivity chain, but also in the role they play in the business and social fabric.

The Need for digital interconnection It is giving an increasing responsibility to the data centers, since they fist the computing machines necessary to create, execute and deliver online applications and services. They are the cornerstone on which infrastructure and digital economy are built, and its presence as Economy dynamizers Win value.

The demand and impact study of the data centers in Spain, carried out by the Spanish Data Centers Association (SPAIN DC) in collaboration with Accenture, provides that the demand for data centers increase 90% until 2028. And it is estimated that our country goes from a data demand from 1,589 exabytes in 2024 to 3,028 exabytes in the next three years.

Data center, employment and effect called

With regard to direct impact, the sector is expected to attract 58,000 million euros of investment in the next five years. Data centers in Spain They generate employment and strengthen the local economy. Specifically, Spain DC data suggest that in 2022 the sector represented 2.33% of total employment in Spain, which is equivalent to 482,000 jobs and was consolidated as a key engine of employment generation in the country.

With regard to indirect impact, the expansion of the data centers Promote the demand for services in telecommunications, renewable energy, manufacture of technological equipment or safety and logistics. Around it, according to the aforementioned study, an innovation ecosystem is generated that benefits interconnected companies and industries: in 2022 the sector reached a total contribution of more than 73,000 million euros to the Spanish economy. It is estimated that it currently contributes 2.49% of the country’s GDP, a figure that could be around 4% in 2030.

“All tasks that are linked to the construction, maintenance and safety of a data center can encourage the local economy. In addition, local technological infrastructure usually improves, with internet connections and advances in telecommunications that would otherwise take longer to arrive”, Explains Miguel Alayón, responsible for the management of data centers in Dinahosting, in statements a Reason.WHY. The Galician company is a domain and hosting supplier and has hired its data centers at the Interxion and Global Switch facilities in Madrid.

In this sense, data centers generate “An effect called” to other companies that seek locations with a good infrastructure and connectivity, which in the long term reverses in a greater technological competitiveness of the region. Amazon Web Services, That on the occasion of the International Day of the Data Centers held on March 26, he shared the impact he is generating in Aragon, illustrated this with the history of five of his partners. Among them, the Levitec electrical installation company, with offices in Huesca and Zaragoza, which ensures that it has gone from telling more than 424 employees in just five years.

For their part, from Dinahosting, Santiago de Compostela launched in 2001, they also indicate their contribution to the area, it can be seen in the local employment generation. His current team has 120 professionals, 20 of whom have been incorporated in the last seven years. From Dinahosting they share that more than 90% of their staff resides in Galicia and have an indefinite contract, which demonstrates their commitment to local talent.

Beyond employment, the contribution of the sector also be perceived in communities, with which companies collaborate closely. Dinahosting claims to carry out the realization of cultural, sports projects and beneficial. Among them, support for fairs and events in the sector, to technological groups and the main technology and ecommerce clusters with which it maintains collaboration agreements.

It also provides free accommodation to educational institutions, and yields virtual servers for students to carry out their practices. Likewise, he teaches Digitalization training and web and domain accommodation management in different universities, and contribute social credits globally through the Kiva platform.

Global Switch, which has 11 data centers distributed in cities such as Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris or Singapore, also actively works its ties with the community. It maintains alliances with educational institutions to train technology, especially in disadvantaged communities, and has established education and practices programs to encourage knowledge and employment in data centers.

The challenge of sustainability

However, one of the areas in which data centers are turning their efforts is in Sustainability, especially following the perception of the impact of your activity. Data centers require huge amounts of energy for operation, and because it is often coming from fossil fuels, they are also carbon emission points.
In addition, they also consume important amounts of water to meet their cooling needs, and generate electronic waste from technological devices.

According to the 2024 Electricity Report of the International Agency of the
Energy (IEA), electricity consumption in data centers in 2022 to
global level was around 1.3% of the total electricity consumption. A figure prior to the AI ​​boom with the launch of Chatgpt at the end of that year.
It is estimated that the Total electricity consumption of the Data Center It could exceed 1,000 SWH in 2026.

To relieve the impact of their activity, data centers are investing in sustainable practices. Among the most common, the purpose of Use 100% renewable energy For the term of this decade, rEducate water use potable and opt for recycled water, as well as promote the reuse of it in irrigation. Also, the use of more sustainable materials and Sustainable recycling and reuse of electronic components.

Heat use is also a work point. Equinix, With data centers in Madrid, Seville and Barcelona, ​​it has the Equinix Heat Export program, which recovers the residual heat of its data centers and exports it to buildings of the surrounding communities, providing a cleaner alternative to traditional methods and at a time of energy price increase.

Although it does not have its own data centers, the initiatives implemented by Dinahosting are also a reflection of the transverse efforts of the industry. Among other things, the company uses 100% renewable energies in its facilities and yields components that it does not use for digital literacy in social educational centers and collective centers. They are measures that have allowed him to be recognized as a Green hosting or sustainable web accommodation,

In addition to the good selection of components for more respectful consumption, from the company they also indicate the Importance of geographical location. “The trend today goes through betting on hosting suppliers that host our websites as close as possible from where we are”, Tells us Miguel Alayón.“In our case, we have both data centers located in Madrid, so a Spanish company will have more advantages from the web performance point of view, data protection and customer service”

Spain and local infrastructure

According to Spain DC there are more than 8,000 data centers worldwide: 33% of them are in the United States, 16% in Europe and about 10% in China. In our country, Data Centers are mainly in Madrid, which brings together almost 55% of the national offer in terms of capacity; Barcelona, ​​with 18.5%; and Aragon, which brings together 10.7%.

It can be expected that the demand for artificial intelligence solutions has grows will also increase the Need for data centers. And our country is favored as a destination thanks to factors such as land cost, competitiveness in renewable energy prices, or access to clean and economic energy.

However, the evolution of the industry It requires advances in terms of capacity, sustainability, efficiency and security. Among the challenges that the sector has ahead of the increase in storage and processing for projects; the food of renewable energy sources and the optimization of energy consumption; the application of AI in the management of operations; Preparation for quantum computing and evolution towards ultra -low latency.

This will depend, in large part, the attraction of investment and, therefore, the possibility of Build a solid and sustainable digital infrastructure That not only drives the companies in the category, but also allow to continue supporting the progress of the entire business fabric and the communities that form it.