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JLL estimates that AI-related uses could account for about half of total data center capacity by the end of the decade
In sum – what to know:
Global capacity set to nearly double – Data center capacity is projected to grow from 103 GW to 200 GW by 2030, with AI workloads making up around half of total demand.
Investment cycle driven by power constraints – JLL estimates up to $3 trillion in investment as grid delays and energy availability reshape development strategies.
Market fundamentals remain stable – Global occupancy stands at 97%, and more than three-quarters of the construction pipeline is already pre-committed.
Global data center capacity is expected to almost double from current 103 GW to 200 GW by 2030, driven largely by rising demand for AI workloads, according to JLL’s 2026 global data center outlook.
The firm estimates that AI-related uses could account for about half of total data center capacity by the end of the decade. Despite rapid growth, JLL says market fundamentals remain stable and do not point to a speculative bubble.
JLL projects up to $3 trillion in total investment over the next five years, including $1.2 trillion in real estate value creation and around $870 billion in new debt financing. The report describes this period as a major infrastructure investment cycle, shaped by power availability, grid delays, and rising construction costs.
“We’re witnessing the most significant transformation in data center infrastructure since the original cloud migration,” Matt Landek, global division president of data centers and critical environments at JLL, said in a press release “The sheer scale of demand is extraordinary. Hyperscalers are allocating $1 trillion for data center spend between 2024 and 2026 alone, while supply constraints and four-year grid connection delays are creating a perfect storm that’s fundamentally reshaping how we approach development, energy sourcing and market strategy.”
Regionally, the Americas are projected to account for about half of global capacity and see the fastest growth. The U.S. continues to dominate activity in the Americas, representing roughly 90% of regional capacity, according to JLL.
In Asia-Pacific, capacity is forecast to rise from 32 GW to 57 GW, while Europe, the Middle East and Africa are expected to add 13 GW of new supply.
“Speed to power has made hyperscalers and data center developers much more comfortable building in secondary and emerging markets. In the last year, there have been notable development announcements in North Dakota, Mississippi, Michigan and West Texas,” Andrew Batson, global head of data center research at JLL, told RCR Wireless News. He added that these are regions that were not seriously considered for data center development five or 10 years ago, when the industry was still focused on building out primary markets.
“Bring your own power is also a significant component of the speed to power story. Bridge power, permanent onsite generation and battery energy storage systems are increasingly leveraged to accelerate how quickly a data center can be operationalized,” Batson added.
JLL reports that global occupancy stands at 97%, with 77% of new capacity already pre-leased. At the same time, power access remains a major constraint, with grid connection delays expected to exceed four-year spans in many markets. As a result, operators are turning to on-site generation, energy storage, and renewable power to manage these challenges, the firm said.
