By Michael Gerrity | World Property Journal
The global data center industry is entering an era of expansion unlike anything it has seen before, driven by surging demand from artificial intelligence and cloud computing while avoiding the excesses that typically accompany rapid growth.
Worldwide data center capacity is expected to nearly double to about 200 gigawatts by 2030, up from roughly 103 gigawatts today, according to JLL’s newly released 2026 Global Data Center Outlook. AI is emerging as the dominant force behind that growth, with workloads tied to artificial intelligence projected to account for about half of all global data center capacity by the end of the decade. Despite the scale of expansion, JLL said sector fundamentals remain sound, with leasing, occupancy and development trends showing no signs of a speculative bubble.
