The growth of cloud services, artificial intelligence and digital public services is increasing demand for data centers across Central and Eastern Europe. Romania, with its EU membership, good fiber infrastructure and competitive costs, is part of this trend, with Bucharest as the main market and Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara as regional hubs.
1. Power comes first
For a data center, power availability is the most important factor. Before looking at buildings or land, investors should check:
- the capacity available at the nearest substation and on the local grid;
- the timeline and cost to obtain the technical connection approval (ATR) from the grid operator;
- the possibility of two independent power feeds for redundancy;
- the option to buy renewable energy through power purchase agreements, increasingly required by tenants.
2. Connectivity
Proximity to fiber routes and to multiple telecom operators reduces costs and latency. Sites near existing carrier-neutral facilities or major fiber corridors have a clear advantage.
3. Land and buildings
Some projects are built on new land, others convert existing industrial buildings. In both cases check:
- zoning under the general and zonal urban plans (PUG and PUZ) and whether the use is allowed;
- flood risk, soil conditions and seismic requirements;
- space for generators, fuel storage, cooling equipment and future expansion;
- road access for construction and maintenance.
4. Cooling and water
Cooling design affects energy and water consumption. Climate, water availability and local regulations should be considered from the beginning, together with the energy efficiency targets set by tenants and by EU rules.
5. Permits and approvals
A data center project requires an urbanism certificate, environmental and fire safety approvals and a building permit, as well as the grid connection documents. Digital infrastructure can also fall under foreign direct investment screening, which should be included in the transaction timeline.
Buy, build or convert?
Buying an existing facility gives immediate revenue but limited flexibility. Building gives full control but takes longer. Converting an industrial site with good power can be the fastest route when the grid capacity is already there.
We help investors find land, buildings and existing facilities for data centers in Romania and coordinate the checks with local authorities and grid operators. Book a call to discuss your requirements.
This article is general information and is not legal, tax or investment advice.