Athens, 15 July 2026: Greek Data Center Association (GRDCA) – the organization representing data center operators, service providers, and key stakeholders of the sector – took an active role in BEYOND 2026, Southeast Europe’s leading international exhibition for technology and innovation, held from 17 to 19 June at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens.
GRDCA was present at Booth D22/E21, where member companies – ABB, Cap Ingelec, Digital Realty, IFSAS, Management Force Group, Protasis Energy, Redeplan, and Schneider Electric – hosted info desks, giving exhibition visitors direct access to representatives of Greece’s data center industry.
GRDCA also brought the industry’s perspective to three sessions in the official conference programme of BEYOND 2026:
- “The Environmental Dimension of Data Centers” (powered by GRDCA): The panel, moderated by Alexandros Bechrakis, Chairman of GRDCA & Managing Director of Digital Realty in Greece, with Christos Govotsos, Consultant (JEPA), George Angelopoulos, Subregional Compliance Manager (Digital Realty), and Manolis Baltas, Head of Development & Construction (ReDePlan), confronted a widespread misconception: data centers currently account for less than 0.1% of Greece’s annual electricity consumption – less than the cement industry, less than tourism. The real question, the speakers argued, is not whether they threaten energy security, but how the country manages the growth that is coming. With the Greek market expanding from 4–5 MW to 50–70 MW in under three years, the discussion turned to what modern data centers can contribute to the energy transition: as stable, predictable loads that can absorb surplus renewable energy and sign long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with wind and solar producers. The panelists also addressed the AI factor – AI workloads generate six to eight times more heat per rack than traditional servers, driving a shift toward new cooling technologies – and identified the permitting framework as Greece’s most significant competitive disadvantage: projects that take 12–18 months to permit in Ireland and Scandinavia can leave investors waiting three to four years here.
- Fireside Chat with Alexandros Bechrakis, Chairman of GRDCA & Managing Director of Digital Realty in Greece: Bechrakis developed the argument that Greece’s real opportunity lies not simply in having submarine cables pass through its territory – which carry more than 95% of global internet traffic – but in turning that geography into economic value. The goal, he explained, is to build a “vertical data corridor” connecting the Eastern Mediterranean, through Crete and mainland Greece, northward to Central and Northern Europe – a route of strategic importance at a moment when Europe is actively seeking reliable, geopolitically stable digital infrastructure. He also set out GRDCA’s institutional priorities: a national data center masterplan, fast-track permitting, and structured public-private dialogue on energy infrastructure.
- “Powering Growth: How Data Centers Create Value for Society” (powered by GRDCA): The panel, moderated by Alexandros Bechrakis, Chairman of GRDCA & Managing Director of Digital Realty in Greece, with Nikos Konstantinidis, Vice President of GRDCA & Country Director of Data4 Greece, and Stamatis Kasmas, Representative Microsoft Greece, opened with a question the industry rarely gets asked with evidence to back it up: what does this sector actually mean for Greek society? According to IDC research conducted for the Greek market, every €1 invested in a data center generates €8.23 in economic output¹ – with each direct industry job creating approximately 7.5 further positions² across construction, engineering, energy, logistics, facility management, and professional services. A market that barely existed three years ago – just 4–5 MW total – now stands at 50–70 MW of active or under-construction capacity, with approximately €1 billion in investment already underway. The speakers argued that Greece is not a passive recipient of this trend: its renewable energy profile, its submarine cable geography, and its EU regulatory standing create structural competitive advantages that other markets cannot easily replicate. The question, they said, is whether Greece will build the conditions to capture a potential €10 billion in investment over the coming decade.
Alexandros Bechrakis, Chairman of GRDCA and CEO of Digital Realty in Greece, stated: “BEYOND 2026 was the first exhibition at which GRDCA participated with this breadth of presence, and that was no coincidence. A market that did not exist three years ago now represents close to €1 billion in investment and an economic footprint many times larger. But the numbers alone are not enough. Society needs to understand what this infrastructure actually means – in jobs, in digital sovereignty, in the energy transition. That was GRDCA’s contribution to BEYOND 2026.”
About GRDCA
The GRDCA is a non-profit organization representing the collective economic, legal, commercial, and technical interests of companies that operate, develop, or own data centers in Greece. Its mission is to accelerate the growth of the Greek data center industry, enhance energy efficiency, and establish the country as a critical regional digital hub. The GRDCA also works to foster a competitive environment for new data center investments, promote more streamlined and flexible processes for infrastructure development and operation, and strengthen the overall sustainability and performance of the sector. In parallel, it advances corporate social responsibility principles, ensures high standards of workplace safety, and supports skills development — contributing to the long-term resilience and growth of Greece’s digital ecosystem.
For more information: www.grdca.gr
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Sources
[1] IDC Research Services, Economic Impact Study, Greek Market (2025)
For Additional Information
GRDCA Media contact: marketing@grdca.com
PR Agency for GRDCA: Social Handlers, Popi Gkikouria, Phone: +30 695 630 1050, popi@socialhandlers.com
