dcently Pulse 2026

Methodology

Purpose

To capture the current state of the industry and create a baseline that dcently can repeat and compare over time.

Fieldwork

Responses were collected online between 16 September 2026 and —. Geography: Europe. Language: en.

Participants were recruited through the dcently network, partner organisations and professional channels. The sample is self-selected and should be read as an informed industry pulse rather than a statistically representative census.

Analysis

Percentages are based on respondents who answered each question. Multiple-choice percentages can exceed 100%. Scale questions report distribution and mean. Ranking questions report average rank position.

Segmented results are only displayed for groups of at least 5 respondents. Open-text answers are coded into themes by dcently before publication.

Ten CORE questions are designed to be repeated in future Pulse waves. Three FOCUS 2026 questions relate to the theme The Licence to Grow. Demographic questions stay consistent between waves so stakeholder groups can be compared over time.

Questions asked

Q1
From the perspective of your organisation, which THREE sustainability topics should be the highest priorities for the data center industry?
Multiple choice · Benchmark
Q2
In which THREE of these areas do you believe the data center industry is currently least mature?
Multiple choice · Benchmark
Q3
Which sustainability area do you believe the data center industry is currently underestimating the most?
Single choice · Benchmark
Q4
How confident are you that the industry currently has the data needed to accurately assess its sustainability performance?
Numeric scale · Benchmark
Q5
How confident are you that the European data center industry can continue to expand over the next five years while maintaining public and political support?
Numeric scale · Benchmark
Q6
What poses the greatest threat to public and political acceptance of data center growth?
Single choice · Benchmark
Q7
Which THREE factors are most likely to constrain European data center growth over the next 5–10 years?
Multiple choice
Q8
Considering both their benefits and impacts, how well do you think data centers currently demonstrate the value they create for society?
Numeric scale · Benchmark
Q9
Which THREE contributions should matter most when assessing the societal value of a data center?
Multiple choice · Benchmark
Q10
Which actor has the greatest ability to accelerate sustainability improvements across the data center ecosystem?
Single choice
Q11
Where in the data center lifecycle is sustainability currently weakest?
Single choice
Q12
How much agreement do you think there is across the industry on what a sustainable — or "decent" — data center actually means?
Numeric scale · Benchmark
Q13
In one sentence: what must be true for a data center to be considered sustainable?
Long open text · Benchmark

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