As the European data centre industry continues to evolve, The Tech Capital sat down for an exclusive interview with Olivier Micheli, the President and CEO of Brookfield-sponsored Data4 Group, on the sidelines of Kickstart 2024 in Amsterdam.

During the conversation, Micheli shared his insights on the opportunities and challenges within the industry, Data4 Group’s expansion plans, and its strategies to capitalize on the emerging Tier 2 locations.

In the interview, the chief executive emphasized the significant opportunities within the European data centre space. He pointed out that the growing demand for AI-ready digital infrastructure presents a promising outlook for the industry. With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, the demand for data centre services continues to surge, creating opportunities for expansion and development.

Micheli also addressed the key challenges the European data centre industry is likely to face in the coming years. He highlighted escalating power requirements, efficient power management, grid congestion, and the quest for optimal locations as major challenges.

Regarding Data4 Group’s expansion plans, Micheli provided insights into the recent secured debt facility of €2.2 billion, extendable to €3.2 billion. He emphasized that this substantial financing will be used to expand existing and planned campuses in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Poland. The company aims to consolidate its position as the European leader in the data centre market by quadrupling its size and achieving a turnover of €800 million by 2029.

In light of the rise of Tier 2 locations, Micheli shared Data4 Group’s strategies to capitalise on this trend and potentially establish a presence in these emerging markets. He highlighted the emergence of new data centre developments in all regions and ambitious megaprojects, indicating the poised double-digit supply growth in the secondary market.