Founded in 2018 by Stijn Grove, KickStart Europe is an annual conference focusing on trends and investments in tech and digital infrastructure. As a must-attend data centre conference in Europe, of course, Soben’s data centre experts were in attendance (and you might have spotted us with Andy Davis recording a few podcast episodes from the event floor!). Discussions at KickStart 2025 were focused on the data centre industry’s rapid transformation. Soben Project Director, Tom Sturt shares what he learned from the two-day conference.
Market expansion and trends
The data centre market has seen huge growth, with the market doubling since 2021. The fringe market especially is expanding at an accelerated pace, reflecting increased demand for data infrastructure beyond traditional hubs. In the last year Europe, has seen a 22% increase in existing data centre capacity. However the cost of constructing a data centre remains high, with the average cost of building a megawatt of data centre capacity in Europe reaching €12 million.
UK & Ireland: Market shifts and business trends
The UK has reportedly seen £39 billion worth of deals since July, showing the continued investment in the data centre space. One of the biggest trends discussed at KickStart Europe is the rise of inference computing – a blend of AI high-density models and low-latency, short, connections to market. This shift is driving changes in business requirements for data centres. A significant market shift has also occurred in Europe, with London losing its top spot as the leading European data centre hub to Frankfurt. While London and Frankfurt primarily serve financial markets, Dublin and Amsterdam are increasingly focused on consumer-driven demand.
The rise of liquid cooling
Advancements in computing power are pushing data centre infrastructure to new heights. The latest hardware developments now support up to 200 kW per rack, necessitating more efficient cooling solutions. Data centres must be adaptable, handling capacities ranging from 2MW to 200MW with flexibility. A key topic at the event was the standardisation of racks and interface units, as highlighted by Dell. In addition to this, Dell are projecting a standard of 480 kW per rack in the near future. Cooling systems will continue to evolve as a combination of air and liquid cooling, with increased focus on using different cooling liquids close to the silicon and copper components.
Fringe locations and the sustainability challenge
With demand for both land and power surging, prices around Frankfurt have sky-rocketed to €2,000 per square metre. The increasing pressure on power resources makes sustainability a top priority, particularly in terms of waste heat recirculation and power reuse. In the UK, power constraints pose a significant challenge. Industry reports suggest that no new capacity will be available until 2035, which raises concerns about future expansion. Meanwhile, a critical bottleneck across Europe is the shortage of modular construction expertise, slowing down deployment timelines.
Despite these challenges, secondary markets such as Madrid and Milan are emerging as key growth areas. These regions are attracting attention as businesses look for alternative locations to expand their data centre operations.
Looking ahead
As the data centre landscape continues to evolve, flexibility, sustainability, and technological advancements will be crucial for industry players. At KickStart Europe, it was clear that the combination of high-density computing, innovative cooling solutions, and emerging secondary markets is shaping the future of data centre development. Companies that can navigate these challenges while capitalising on new opportunities will be best positioned for success in 2025 and onwards.
To learn more about Soben, contact Tom on the details below:
Project Director
Data Centre Trends 2025
The data centre industry is at a crossroads as AI-driven demand pushes power, sustainability, and workforce challenges to critical levels. Global construction consultancy, Soben, explores these pressing issues in its newly published Data Centre Trends 2025: Power, AI, and Progress report, revealing bold solutions to the complex problems reshaping the sector.
