The initiative establishes guidelines to accelerate the sector’s development in the country, structured around four pillars aimed at reducing historical barriers to the advancement of data centers.
The regulation and governance pillar designates the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP) as the single point of contact for investors, responsible for coordinating projects and facilitating decisions among public agencies. It also sets maximum deadlines for licensing processes.
The energy and infrastructure pillar provides for the identification of pre-zoned land with approved planning, basic infrastructure, and grid connections, in coordination with REN (National Energy Networks). The plan leverages mechanisms under Decree-Law 80/2023, which allows for the reallocation of unused grid capacity to high-demand projects, with priority given to data centers classified as Projects of National Interest.
The demand and market pillar creates conditions for direct state participation, through the Portuguese Development Bank, in projects considered strategic, reducing risks for private investors. It also provides for an AICEP portal with structured information on land, energy, regulatory timelines, and tax incentives.
Finally, the territory and ecosystem pillar requires that projects include concrete benefits for local communities and establish reversibility rules for the use of land and infrastructure at the end of the projects’ useful life.
Portugal views 2026 and 2027 as decisive periods for attracting major international hyperscale operators, who are currently defining their infrastructure strategies in Europe. Microsoft has already announced a large investment in Sines, in partnership with Start Campus, including the installation of more than 12,000 next-generation Nvidia GPUs, with operations scheduled to begin in early 2026.
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