At the 6th Energy Law Conference of NOMIKI BIBLIOTHIKI — one of Greece’s leading annual forums for energy law and policy — our Partner and Head of Energy & Infrastructure, Evans (Evangelos) Courakis, also serving as Secretary General of the Foreign Investors Council, spoke on the evolving role of data centers as a new form of critical energy infrastructure.

His presentation explored how the rapidexpansion of AI and digital services is transforming data centers into one of the most significant new sources of electricity demand globally. By 2030, the sector is projected to consume more electricity than entire national economies such as Japan or Germany — a scale of demand that fundamentally reshapes energy markets, grid planning, and investment frameworks.

Mr. Courakis highlighted Greece’s real potential to emerge as a regional hub, drawing on its strategic geographic position bridging Europe, the Middle East and Africa, its strong subsea cable interconnections, and its growing renewable energy penetration.

The presentation was equally candid about the challenges ahead. Greece’s current regulatory framework remains fragmented across multiple licensing authorities, with no unified national strategy linking data center development to energy policy and spatial planning. Progress will require designated installation zones, a genuine one-stop-shop permitting process, and a regulatory approach that treats data centers as the critical energy infrastructure they are — not merely as digital investments.

The experience of other markets, including Ireland, offers a clear signal: without coordinated planning, rapid growth in data center load can trigger moratoria and erode public support.

At KLF, we are committed to advising clients navigating the complex intersection of energy law, infrastructure development, and digital transformation.