TURQUIE PERSPECTIVE

Turkey positions itself as a regional data center hub at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. The Turkish market is growing at 16.23% annually, from 66 MW in 2025 to a projected 140 MW by 2030. Khazna Data Centers plans a 100 MW 'AI-ready' facility in the country.

Turkey's energy response is specific: the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (4.8 GW, four VVER-1200 reactors) is nearing commissioning, with Unit 1 expected online by 2026. Ankara targets 20 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050 with growing interest in small modular reactors (SMR).

But energy costs remain a challenge: Turkish data center operating costs are estimated at $250 million annually, primarily energy-related, with prices rising 20% in 2023. Turkish media coverage highlights the country's strategic geographic positioning and nuclear as the solution, without addressing seismic risks related to nuclear reactor placement intended to power critical data centers.

The Turkish framing reflects a vision where data center development fits into the country's technological rise and its ambition as a bridge between digital civilizations.