Technology

Amazon’s European data center projects stalled by grid delays spanning up to seven years — no new connections until after 2030

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Feb 6, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

Amazon Web Services is facing significant delays in connecting new European data center projects to the grid, with wait times stretching up to seven years, pushing new connections beyond 2030. The delays in grid connections have become a crucial factor in Amazon's data center investments in Europe. The surge in data center power demand, particularly driven by AI infrastructure, has strained grid capacities and led to extended procurement timelines for core grid components. Efforts to reform the grid connection system are underway in countries like the UK, Italy, and Spain, but bureaucratic processes and existing queues will take years to resolve. The delays in grid access are influencing where hyperscalers choose to invest, potentially shifting data center hubs away from traditional locations like Frankfurt and London. Amazon is actively involved in energy policy discussions and initiatives to accelerate grid investment, alongside other tech giants like Google and Meta.

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