This week we published our 2007 data center construction survey and the results were staggering: 82% of the respondents said they would be building or renovating a data center in 2007 or 2008.

Further data from the survey:

Europe to be the next data center growth area:

According to Digital Realty Trust’s Senior VP Chris Crosby, More than 80% of European companies are planning data center expansions, which mirrors what the surveys found in the U.S.

“The main difference was the timeframe: The bulk of the European projects are out near the back end of the 24 month period we asked about. That indicates that the European is 18-24 months behind the U.S. in terms of when that wave will crest,” Crosby said.

 Europe’s energy policy may be driving more data centers to go green across the pond. “Europeans think they’re way ahead of us on the energy issues,” said Joe Clabby of Clabby Analytics. “Members of the EU have come up with energy credits. If you exceed your energy credits you pay fines, if you go under you can sell your energy credits and make money. In the EU there is heavy legislation to not waste energy.”

Data center glut coming?

We’re in a boom cycle now, but will the bubble burst? All of this data center construction could lead to a lot of raised floor real estate sitting empty on the market if trends towards virtualization and consolidation catch up. Are companies overestimating data center infrastructure demand?