被忽视的机会？高盛：市场严重低估欧洲数据中心的爆发力

Core Insights - Europe is emerging as a significantly undervalued region in the next wave of global data center construction, driven by AI computing demand, localization of cloud computing, and improved policy environment [1][5] Group 1: Data Center Capacity and Growth - According to the European Data Center Association (EUDCA), Europe's data center capacity is expected to increase from approximately 15 gigawatts (GW) to around 40 GW by 2031, nearly tripling the current market size [1] - Goldman Sachs indicates that the construction pace of data centers in Europe is advancing significantly, with many projects already in the construction phase and higher visibility for projects in the 3-5 year timeframe [2] Group 2: Impact on Electricity Demand - Data centers are projected to drive an average annual growth of nearly 1.5% in overall electricity consumption in Europe from 2027 to 2031, not accounting for additional demand from electric vehicles, electrification, and GDP growth [3] - The increase in electricity demand is driven by three main factors: ongoing electrification of transportation and industry, clean energy transition, and data center loads centered around AI and cloud computing [3] Group 3: Geographical Distribution of Data Centers - Unlike the concentration of data centers in the U.S., Europe's expansion is characterized by geographical dispersion, with significant new capacity expected across major economies such as Germany and the UK, each around 4 GW, followed by several countries with 2 GW or more [4] - This distributed layout presents investment opportunities across multiple countries and raises requirements for cross-regional transmission capacity and grid coordination [4] Group 4: Policy Environment - The EU is expected to release the "Cloud and AI Development Act" by the end of March, which will provide clear and actionable policy signals for investments in local data centers and AI infrastructure [5] - Additionally, the "Grid Package Plan" aims to accelerate grid connection approvals and promote cross-border transmission network construction to alleviate power bottlenecks caused by concentrated data center operations [6] Group 5: Benefits to Power Sector - The rising electricity demand from data centers is likely to tighten the power market in Europe, enhancing the profitability of traditional gas power plants during the construction period of renewable energy projects [7] - Higher electricity price expectations may improve the pricing and return levels of ongoing renewable energy projects, benefiting companies like RWE and Solaria [7] - The data center construction boom is also expected to positively impact upstream equipment sectors, with demand potentially outpacing supply, leading to a buy rating for Siemens Energy [7]