What could data centres look like in 2055?

AI, sustainability, and sovereignty are redefining infrastructure in the AI era across EMEA. Lenovo’s latest research reveals what IT leaders expect next, and how to build smarter, more efficient data centres today. 

Conducted in partnership with Opinium, the Data Centre of the Future study identifies the key factors shaping the future design, technology, and location of infrastructure across the region.

The results confirm: the time to rethink your data center design, is now.

 

45%
of IT decision-makers say their current data center design doesn't support sustainability goals
90%
of IT decision-makers believe AI will significantly increase organizational data usage
99%
of IT and C-level decision makers say data sovereignty will be important to how data is collected

What’s driving the change?

 

From powering AI workloads efficiently to meeting urgent sustainability and compliance demands, the research* shows traditional data center designs are falling short, with many IT leaders admitting their current infrastructure does not support energy or carbon-reduction goals. 

 

Here’s what IT leaders told us:

– Sustainability Gap: Traditional data centers in EMEA are not fit for purpose when it comes to sustainability. 45% of IT leaders say their current infrastructure doesn’t support their sustainability goals, as AI and automation increase energy demands. 

– Data Sovereignty: Control is critical to competitiveness. 88% of IT decision-makers are already viewing data sovereignty as a priority and nearly 99% expect it to remain important over the next five years

– Low Latency: Speed is an ongoing concern. 94% cite low latency as a top requirement today and in the years ahead, driven by the growth of real-time applications and edge computing.

– AI Infrastructure Readiness: AI is outpacing the infrastructure needed to power it. 90% expect AI to drive massive data growth, and 62% expect AI and automation to have the greatest impact on IT strategy. However, fewer than half (41%) feel ready to integrate AI effectively. 

– Partnership: Selecting a vendor and partner that can provide tangible impact is key. 92% of IT decision-makers prioritize technology partners who reduce energy use and carbon footprint. 

 

*Fieldwork conducted in August 2025, surveyed 250 IT decision makers in companies of 250 employees or more in Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the UK and UAE.

The data center of the future will be defined by how effectively it can scale for AI, deliver on sustainability targets, and operate with maximum energy efficiency. As demand for compute accelerates, customers will increasingly look to infrastructure partners who can deliver performance without compromise, and who take responsibility for reducing environmental impact.
Simone Larsson, Head of Enterprise AI, EMEA at Lenovo

Imagining the Data Center of the Future

 

Lenovo worked with engineering firm AKT II and architects Mamou-Mani to consider how data centers could look in 30 years.

The brief: push the limits of what’s possible today – ignore constraints around space, materials or construction complexity – while treating sustainability, data sovereignty, security and latency as critical design imperatives.

The concepts take the rack server data center model and leverage water cooling technology to boost their sustainability, while also making use of natural resources, disused spaces and unexpected locations to solve the challenges and meet needs of their users. These AI-generated images** offer a glimpse of how data center facilities could be reshaped in new and exciting ways. 

CONCEPT 1
The Floating Cloud
This airborne data centre concept floats at 20–30 km altitude, safely above commercial airspace, powered by continuous solar energy and cooled using pressurised closed-loop liquid systems to prevent pollution. Its modular design enables feasibility and offers natural stratospheric cooling, zero land impact, and resilience against disasters. However, it faces potential challenges with airspace regulations, maintenance, scalability, data sovereignty, and latency.
A concept drawing using AI, of a data center suspended by a balloon and strings, above clouds.
A concept drawing using AI, of a data center suspended by a balloon and strings, above clouds.
CONCEPT 2
The Data Village
The Data Village is a modular, city-integrated data centre concept positioned near rivers or canals to enhance liquid cooling and enable efficient waste-heat reuse - powering local buildings like schools or homes. Its close proximity to urban users also reduces latency and supports edge computing. While the design scores highly on sustainability and performance, its open, distributed layout introduces potential challenges in physical security, maintenance, and data governance that would require careful management.
A modular data centre building above a body of water
A modular data centre building above a body of water
CONCEPT 3
A Data Spa
Building on the Data Village is the Data Spa, a biophilic data centre concept that integrates into natural landscapes - such as valleys, lagoons, or geothermal pools - potentially using geothermal energy and liquid cooling technology to minimise electricity consumption and maximise sustainability. Waste heat is repurposed for communal benefit, such as spa-like experiences or heating nearby infrastructure. While the design excels in environmental integration and public appeal, it would require complex system engineering, higher upfront investment, and careful thermal load management to maintain consistent heat output.
A concept design by AI showing a spa area with steaming pools in front of a data centre room
A concept design by AI showing a spa area with steaming pools in front of a data centre room
CONCEPT 4
The Data Center Bunker:
The Data Centre Bunker concept repurposes disused underground infrastructure, such as tunnels, bunkers, or transport systems, to reduce land use and preserve valuable surface space, while enabling secure, centralised deployment. Its subterranean location offers strong sustainability benefits through natural thermal stability, supports waste-heat reuse, and provides exceptional resilience and data sovereignty. However, it could face limitations with scalability, complex cooling and ventilation requirements, and potential flood risks depending on site geology.
A landscape cross section of a datacentre underground with tunnel openings on a hillside above
A landscape cross section of a datacentre underground with tunnel openings on a hillside above
As architects and engineers, we have a responsibility to make data centers better, not just bigger. The Data Center of the Future project combines the evolving needs of businesses with practical pathways, from reusing mines and bunkers to high-altitude cloud modules, urban data villages, and data spas that pair server heat with public amenities. Based on Lenovo’s liquid cooling technology, we show how natural resources and existing locations can reduce overheads and return energy to communities. While we don’t have a crystal ball to show exactly what the future holds for data centers, this playbook provides a glimpse of concepts that could move from ideas to pilots, faster and with less risk.
James Cheung, Partner at Mamou-Mani.

** AI Transparency Statement: Some of the visual representations included in this work were created or enhanced using artificial intelligence tools, such as Midjourney, to support conceptual exploration and visual communication. These AI-generated images are intended to illustrate design intent and atmosphere; all underlying architectural ideas, spatial compositions, and design decisions were conceived and developed by the author.

The time to rethink data center design is now

 

Data centre power consumption in Europe could nearly triple by 2030, according to McKinsey. As organisations race to scale their infrastructure for AI-driven workloads, efficiency-focused innovation is more critical than ever.

Assessing and investing in scalable infrastructure that supports sustainability goals today is the most effective way to future-proof your data centre for the demands of tomorrow.

FUTURE PROOF YOUR DATA CENTER
Lenovo Neptune: Engineered for performance. Designed for efficiency.
Lenovo’s 6th Gen Neptune® Liquid Cooling technology rises to the challenge, using liquid-based heat removal to deliver exceptional performance while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to traditional air-cooled systems. Watch how this works, and how we build and test systems in Europe for customers in the region.
Future Proof Your Data Center
LISSA: Make smarter, more responsible IT choices
Lenovo’s Intelligent Sustainability Solutions Advisor (LISSA) provides actionable insights to help organisations estimate emissions across the IT lifecycle and align infrastructure decisions with their sustainability goals. Watch the video to understand how it allows customers to simulate different solution scenarios, compare environmental impact, and identify the most effective pathways for IT decarbonisation in the digital workplace.

Real customers. Real compute.

Real sustainability gains.

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Germany

At PIK, Lenovo ThinkSystem servers paired with Neptune liquid‑cooling technology have not only accelerated global climate modelling and advanced AI research, they’ve also enabled waste heat recovery – currently heating more than 250 workstations and multiple campus buildings via warm‑water reuse. 

Learn more

Barcelona Supercomputing Centre
Spain

MareNostrum 5 utilizes Lenovo’s cutting-edge fifth-generation Neptune™ direct water-cooled technology to improve efficiency, enabling complex workloads such as climate modelling, biomedicine and material science. The site’s heritage (a repurposed 19th-century chapel) further underscores the blend of history and cutting-edge infrastructure.  

Learn more

ENEA
Italy

The National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) prioritised energy efficiency and sustainability alongside raw compute power in the deployment of the CRESCO8 supercomputer. Powered by Lenovo Neptune® direct liquid cooling, the system captures up to 98% of generated heat – significantly reducing cooling energy use while accelerating clean-energy research and aligning infrastructure with long-term sustainability goals.

Learn more

Responsible Compute
Iceland

A joint venture of Origo and Borealis Data Center, Responsible Compute is helping customers embrace the future of sustainable IT with a high-performance computing infrastructure that runs entirely on 100% renewable energy, powered by Lenovo ThinkSystem servers and VMware cloud technology.

Learn more

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