# EU Seeks AI Gigafactory Proposals

At an AI summit in Dublin on 14 October 2026, European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said the EU expects data-centre capacity to triple within five to seven years and is seeking more energy-efficient infrastructure. The EU’s open call for AI gigafactories creates a procurement opportunity in large-scale compute and supporting infrastructure. In Ireland, questions remain about how the 80% renewable-energy requirement will apply; Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said it takes effect in five years, while the signal notes differing interpretations of the rule and its implications for power supply.

- The AI gigafactory call was open on 14 October 2026, but no deadline, award value, or solicitation number is stated. Prospective applicants should use the call’s published materials to confirm participation terms before committing resources.
- Data-centre developers, energy-efficiency providers, and renewable-energy suppliers may find opportunities as the EU plans for expanded compute capacity.
- Companies planning Irish data-centre investments should account for uncertainty around the timing and interpretation of the 80% renewable-energy requirement when evaluating power-supply options.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Information Technology, Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 14, 2026

### Government Entities
- European Commission (EC)
- Government of Ireland

### Vendors
- Microsoft ()
- Google DeepMind ()
- OpenAI ()
- Amazon ()
- Nvidia ()

### Key Quotes
> Firstly, the 80% requirement only applies in five years’ time – that’s a long time in which they can be powered by fossil fuels.
> — Roderic O’Gorman, Green Party leader

### Sources
- [Data centre energy use questioned amid AI summit | Belfast Telegraph](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/data-centre-energy-use-questioned-amid-ai-summit/a/163045005.html) - Belfast Telegraph