Poland moves into next data centre phase in 2026

In our previous article, we explored why Poland’s climate, energy systems, and waste heat recovery infrastructure have made it a good location for data centre development. As time has passed, we have seen these advantages reinforced by a growing market and more deliveries in the region.  Poland is no longer an emerging alternative to Europe’s Tier 1 hubs. 2026 has shown that it is entering a phase in which timing, execution, and local expertise will be major factors in success.  

In 2024, commercial data centre capacity in Poland exceeded 200 MW, which represented more than one-third of all capacity in Central and Eastern Europe. By 2030, the market is forecast to triple if current rates continue. This level of expansion shows that Poland is moving from opportunity-led interest to a period of sustained data centre growth.  

Poland graduates to a scalable market

Poland is now the largest data centre market in the Central and Eastern Europe region. Capacity has more than doubled between 2021 and 2024, and power availability has increased significantly in recent years. Importantly, this growth is demand driven. Six in ten Polish organisations already use external data centre services, and four in ten intend to increase their spending. This underlines how third-party digital infrastructure companies are developing with the Polish economy.  

Warsaw remains the dominant hub for the region. It accounts for about 74% of available power and around 70% of commercial colocation and hosting space. However, this does not mean the regional markets are not also increasing. Cities such as Kraków, Poznań, and Gdańsk are also seeing data centre infrastructure deployed there. In fact, more than 25 major data centre projects have been announced across Poland.

For investors typically used to Tier 1 hubs, Poland is growing to a familiar level. The benefit it has, though, is that it comes with fewer constraints on land availability and grid access than the more saturated European hubs are facing.  

Sustainable infrastructure

Power availability remains one of the more significant constraints for data centre development in Europe. In this respect, Poland is well-positioned. The national transmission system operator has allocated grid capacity to support up to 1.2 GW of new data centre developments by 2034. This provides visibility into the future that is increasingly rare elsewhere. For high-density and AI-ready facilities, this certainty directly influences site selection and construction strategies.  

Poland’s energy system is also transitioning. The country is targeting a power mix in which around 72% of electricity generation is derived from low-carbon sources by 2030. This is largely supported by investments in renewables, gas, and a long-term nuclear programme. While today’s grid mix remains in transition, this idea for the future of power in the region enables long-term investment decisions.  

What further distinguishes Poland is its ability to approach sustainability at the system level. The country operates the second-largest district heating network in Europe. This creates a realistic pathway for large-scale waste heat recovery. For data centres, this changes the commercial and technical logic of energy reuse. Waste heat recovery can be integrated into early design decisions, such as site selection, cooling solutions, and long-term operational strategies. This prevents the need for costly retrofits in the future.

This change is reshaping how data centres handle energy reuse, both commercially and technically. The EU Energy Efficiency Directive now requires these networks to decarbonise. In Poland, district heating systems need to use more waste heat over time to keep their 'efficient system' status, which makes data centres important and dependable energy sources. If operators include waste heat recovery early on, like when choosing sites or cooling systems, they can meet EU Taxonomy standards and avoid costly updates later. For more information, see Katarzyna Wachowicz's blog on the topic.

Regulatory and societal expectations around energy efficiency continue to tighten. As such, the ability to build a data centre in an environment that benefits from sustainable energy, land availability, and potential for waste heat recovery is increasingly valuable.  

Why local expertise decides success

Having a large market and strong existing infrastructure is important, but neither alone guarantees success. What is currently setting Poland apart is its people. In the region, there is an experienced community of experts who are supporting delivery in the country. Around 57% of companies involved in the sector are either Polish or have manufacturing bases in the country. These cover everything from design and engineering to construction and operation. This local presence means projects are much more resilient and less dependent on international supply chains, helping to reduce delays.  

Poland’s technical workforce is an enabler for development. Strong engineering traditions and a wide pool of skilled professionals in both construction and design provide ample local knowledge, which is key during deployment. For new market entrants, this local knowledge can be key when managing issues such as permitting or grid connections.  

At Cundall, we are proud to have a strong local team in Poland with extensive experience delivering hyperscale and AI-ready data centres across local and international markets. This allows us to support clients entering or expanding in the Polish market by translating operator challenges into actionable solutions. As Poland’s market continues to scale, integrating this local insight with global best practices becomes increasingly important.  

Looking ahead

Poland has moved beyond being simply a complementary option to Europe’s traditional FLAP-D hubs. It is a market that has scaled and continues to grow thanks to its favourable conditions for data centre deployment. However, organisations that approach the region with the same plans they have for Tier 1 locations will miss the opportunities that make the market attractive in the first place. Those that succeed will be the ones that engage early with partners who understand the landscape and its position in the wider European environment.

If you are looking to deliver a data centre project in Poland, reach out to a member of our team to learn more about our capabilities in the region.