Spain has proposed new rules requiring data centers to source at least 80% of their electricity from additional renewable generation, with hourly matching of consumption and supply. The framework would apply to facilities of at least 1 MW and introduce grid access, water efficiency and EU data sovereignty requirements.
On August 25, Spain’s Council of Ministers approved the urgent administrative processing of a draft royal decree that would establish a new regulatory framework for data center development, linking expansion to energy sustainability, water efficiency, resilience and digital sovereignty requirements.
Under the proposed rules, data centers would have to be operated by entities established in the European Union. Operators would be required to keep infrastructure-related operational data within EU territory and take measures to prevent access by authorities in third countries where such access is not authorized under EU law.
Data centers above specified thresholds would have to submit declarations confirming compliance with the requirements. Facilities hosting public administration or national security data would also have to formally guarantee that the data remains within the European Union.
