Valuing Data Centre Businesses in 2026: AI Boom Meets Power Reality
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Data centres have become the backbone of the AI revolution. For business owners, investors, and corporates in Asia, accurate valuation of these assets is more important than ever — whether for transactions, funding, or disputes.
Explosive Demand, Constrained by Power Hyperscalers are pouring unprecedented capital into data centres, but reliable power is now the biggest bottleneck.
Key Data Centre Metrics (2026 Context)
Hyperscaler CapEx — Around US$650 billion expected in 2026 across major players (Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft).
Power Consumption — Global data centres consumed ~415 TWh in 2024; projected to reach ~945 TWh by 2030 (more than double).
Construction Cost — Average ~US$11.3 million per MW.
How Valuation Has Changed Standard methods (DCF, multiples, replacement cost) remain relevant, but the emphasis has shifted:
Power capacity is king — Sites with secured megawatts and short grid timelines command premium valuations.
Location advantage in Asia — Singapore, Malaysia, and selected zones in China/Japan often have faster permitting than many Western markets.
Strong margins where power is solved — Well-positioned operators can achieve EBITDA margins above 35%, with asset multiples frequently in the 15–25x range.
Practical Questions for Asian Stakeholders When valuing or investing in data-centre businesses:
How many MW of firm power can actually be delivered in the next 24–36 months?
What are the realistic timelines and costs for scaling capacity?
How resilient are the cash flows if power costs rise or hyperscaler demand moderates?
The AI supercycle is strong, but success in 2026 and beyond belongs to those who secured power and infrastructure early.
At Future Asia Advisory, we help clients navigate exactly these challenges — whether it is a full business valuation, fairness opinion, due diligence, or expert support in a dispute involving technology assets.