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Spain eases proposed data-center energy requirements

A revised draft would cover facilities above 10 MW and give developers more flexibility in meeting renewable-energy requirements.

Rows of server cabinets inside a data center
Photo: CNA

Spain presented changes to its proposed data-center decree on October 26, narrowing its scope and allowing developers longer to meet renewable-energy requirements, energy ministry officials said. The revisions follow numerous project announcements in the country.

Under the revised draft, facilities would fall within the rules only if their power capacity exceeds 10 MW. The earlier version set the cutoff at more than 1 megawatt.

The proposal would still require each new megawatt used by a facility to be matched with a newly installed megawatt of renewable energy. But developers could count installations completed within 36 months before operations begin, rather than the previously proposed 18 months. Solar installations would face no time limit.

The draft retains a requirement for renewables to supply at least 80% of a data center's energy during each operating hour. It now also provides a conditional transition option, allowing up to five years to meet that level.

Spain's plentiful renewable energy and extensive undeveloped land have attracted artificial intelligence infrastructure projects valued at tens of billions of euros.

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Hao Chen

Technology Editor

Edits and reviews technology business stories: artificial intelligence, chips, big tech, software, cybersecurity incidents, start-ups and platform regulation.