Europe runs the risk of regulating the necessary infrastructures to develop artificial intelligence even before having built them. This is the warning issued by David Mesonero, a senior executive at Iberdrola, following Mario Draghi's reflections on the European position in the technological race and amid ongoing debate in Spain about the new conditions that data centers must meet.
Mesonero believes that the lack of computing capacity is one of the main weak points of the European Union and recalls a particularly significant fact: Europe concentrates less than 5% of the world's computing capacity for artificial intelligence, compared to approximately 75% of the United States. This figure does not only come from his assessment: it is also included by the European Commission in its strategy on artificial intelligence applied to science.
“Without our own computing infrastructure, there will be no true digital sovereignty, a boost in productivity, or strategic autonomy. Only technological dependence,” the executive argues in a publication on LinkedIn.
Spain has energy, land, and connectivity, but also new demands
For Mesonero, Spain has many of the necessary ingredients to become one of the major European data center hubs: high renewable production, competitive energy, availability of land, fiber connections, qualified professionals, and a geographical position that facilitates international communications.
The problem, in his view, lies in regulation and administrative timelines. The Government has proposed a royal decree to regulate the growth of these facilities that, among other measures, would require data centers of 1 MW or more to back up hour by hour, 80% of their energy consumption with new renewable generation. The Executive defends that the conditions will allow for the compatibility of sector expansion with sustainability, supply security, and digital sovereignty.
Mesonero questions, however, whether a demand of these characteristics produces the desired effect. The executive defends the sustainability and security of the network, but considers that demanding that 80% of renewable supply with hourly correspondence may not attract more sustainable investments, but rather provoke some projects to be installed in other countries. A similar criticism has been made by SpainDC, the employers' association of the sector, which considers the conditions posed to be very difficult to meet.
The example of Finland: Google will invest 13 billion
The executive of Iberdrola contrasts the Spanish debate with what happened in Finland, where Google has just announced an investment of at least 13 billion euros during 2027 and 2028 to expand its digital and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company will develop data centers and other facilities in Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos, and Vaala, in addition to energy projects and actions related to local communities.
The operation represents the largest individual investment made by Google in Europe and is accompanied by long-term energy agreements. Among them is a contract with the energy company Fortum to acquire part of the electricity produced by the Loviisa nuclear power plant for more than two decades.
For Mesonero, Finland demonstrates that factors such as competitive energy, sufficient electrical networks, legal security, and a clear industrial strategy can become decisive elements to attract investments linked to artificial intelligence.
Draghi warns again of the gap with the United States
The position of the executive coincides with the latest diagnosis of Mario Draghi on European competitiveness. The former president of the European Central Bank has warned that the EU needs to significantly increase its computing capacity if it wants to capture the economic benefits of artificial intelligence, reduce its external dependence, and close part of the productivity gap with the United States.
The issue is not limited to having data centers. These facilities require enormous amounts of electricity, connections to networks capable of handling new demands, and administrative procedures that allow them to be built quickly. Precisely for this reason, Mesonero outlines five priorities for Europe: more networks and clean generation, much faster permits, a stable and applicable regulation, long-term contracts that group public and private demand, and data centers capable of generating employment, innovation, and local economic activity.
“Spain can choose between leading the AI revolution or regulating how others lead it”
The debate also has a direct relevance for Iberdrola. The electric company maintains an alliance with Echelon to develop data centers in Spain and has pointed out this sector as one of the sources of future growth for electricity demand. The first project of the joint venture, Madrid Sur, contemplates a complex of 160,000 square meters, a processing capacity of 144 MW, and an investment associated with an infrastructure that could generate around 1,500 jobs.
Mesonero summarizes his position with a particularly forceful warning: “Regulation without infrastructure is not sovereignty. It is a managed decline”. For the executive, Spain is still on time to take advantage of its energy and geographical advantage, but it must decide whether it wants to compete for the investments that will accompany the development of artificial intelligence or assume the risk that they end up being established in other European markets.
“Spain can still choose whether to lead the AI revolution or simply regulate how others lead it,” he concludes.