Electricity Demand Reshapes Data Center Development in France
The data center landscape in France is shifting, driven by electricity availability rather than land access. As of May 2026, RTE reserved 18 gigawatts for nearly 80 data center projects, significantly up from 5 gigawatts in late 2024, highlighting a growing demand that outstrips current supply capabilities.
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RTE has reported a significant increase in demand for data center electricity, reserving 18 gigawatts for approximately 80 projects as of May 2026. This marks an increase from 5 gigawatts at the end of 2024, with total demand projected to exceed 28 gigawatts, surpassing the needs of the entire French industry.
Connection delays now range from two to seven years, complicating operations for providers promising swift project completions. RTE has initiated a rapid connection program for five sites, enabling quicker access to substantial power capacities.
However, only 20% of the reserved power is being utilized by recently connected sites, suggesting potential overestimation of needs. France ranks third or fourth in Europe for data center capacity but may lose ground to countries that can deliver electricity faster.
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