Portugal approves national data center plan to attract hyperscale investment

Portugal has launched a national data center development strategy aimed at attracting hyperscale operators through streamlined regulations and pre-approved infrastructure zones. The National Data Center Plan (PNCD), approved Under the new framework, the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP) serves as single point of contact for investors, coordinating across agencies and enforcing maximum licensing deadlines. The plan designates pre-zoned land with approved planning and grid connections, prioritizing Projects of National Interest for unused grid capacity reallocation. The government will participate directly in strategic projects through the Portuguese Development Bank to mitigate private investor risk. An AICEP portal will centralize information on land availability, energy infrastructure, regulatory timelines, and tax incentives. Projects must demonstrate community benefits and include reversibility plans for land and infrastructure post-operation. The framework incorporates professional services like engineering, legal, and project management into the supported value chain. Microsoft has already committed to a major Sines development with partner Start Campus, planning installation of over 12,000 next-generation Nvidia GPUs with operations commencing early 2026. Portugal aims to leverage this anchor investment to attract additional hyperscale operators finalizing European infrastructure strategies. While challenges around grid connections, construction costs, and contractor availability persist, the PNCD addresses historical barriers like uncertain planning processes and fragmented agency coordination that previously discouraged investment commitments.