Proprietary data
Data Center Power & Policy in France
Every government action on data centers and power in France that we have verified: moratoriums, grid rules, incentives, tariffs and plans, with the power indicators that drive site selection.
By Amit Jain
Reviewed by Deepti Agrawal
Updated 8 October 2026
In short
As of 8 October 2026, DC Market Insights tracks 9 government actions on data centers and power in France, 4 of them in force. We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in France. 1 incentive scheme applies: Loi n° 2026-403 de simplification de la vie économique: data centres eligible for projet d'intérêt national majeur (art. 35).
Market snapshot
France power and policy: key facts
- Industrial electricity price: 104 USD/MWh (2025). Rank 8 of 12 tracked countries, highest first.
- Renewable share of electricity generation: 27% (2025). Rank 8 of 16 tracked countries, highest first.
- Grid emission factor: 0.02 kgCO2/kWh (2025). Rank 12 of 12 tracked countries, highest first.
- Latest change: Loi n° 2026-403 de simplification de la vie économique: data centres eligible for projet d'intérêt national majeur (art. 35) (Parlement / Conseil constitutionnel, 26 May 2026).
- By type: 3 plan or strategy, 2 efficiency rule, 1 incentive and 1 grid access.
Power indicators for France
Latest official figure for each indicator, with earlier years where we have them.
In force now in France
Grid access (1)
CRE-approved electrical capacity pre-reservation procedure (fast-track connection) for high-power sites
A procedure to pre-reserve electrical capacity at the State's request was approved by CRE in May 2025, allowing accelerated grid connection (3 to 4 years) for high-power sites (>400 MW) identified as fast-track. The DGE guide states four of the identified data centre sites benefit from it. (source gives month only)
400 MW minimum site power
Incentive (1)
Loi n° 2026-403 de simplification de la vie économique: data centres eligible for projet d'intérêt national majeur (art. 35)
Article 35 of the law inserts a paragraph I bis in article L. 300-6-2 of the code de l'urbanisme allowing a data centre, by its purpose and scale, to be qualified by decree as a project of major national interest. The Conseil constitutionnel found it compliant on 21 May 2026; the law was promulgated 26 May 2026.
Efficiency rule (2)
PUE target of 1.20 by 2030 for the largest data centres under the tertiary-sector decree
The DGE guide states the largest data centres (over 10,000 m2) have a PUE target of 1.20 in 2030 set by the tertiary-sector decree (éco-énergie tertiaire, loi ELAN). It also cites the EU rule that new data centres above 1 MW must reuse waste heat unless technically or economically impossible.
1.2 PUE target (2030) date is the guide's publication month (November 2025, source gives month only); the guide does not state the decree's date.
Annual energy and water performance reporting by large data centres under the EU Energy Efficiency Directive
Since 2023, large data centres in France must report their energy and water performance indicators to the European Commission every year, under the energy efficiency directive. The DGE page states no kW threshold. (source gives year only)
Announced and proposed
Measures that are not yet in force. Status changes when the rule takes effect or is withdrawn.
Guide to siting data centres and 63 sites identified (DGE and Business France)
The DGE and Business France guide published in November 2025 (source gives month only) states 63 sites suitable for data centres were identified and announced at the Choose France 2025 summit, following a task force set up in early 2025 under the Paris AI Action Summit. It advises targeting sites easily connected to the grid.
63 sites
RTE Schéma décennal de développement du réseau (SDDR) orientations
RTE's network development plan (SDDR) orientations, published 13 February 2025, cover connecting new consumers including factories, data centres and electrolysers. A public debate ran from 4 September 2025 to 14 January 2026; RTE has not yet published the final version, which is still under review (CRE opinion February 2026, environmental authority referral 30 July 2026).
Announced acceleration of permitting for data centre projects (PINM extension, CNDP scope, litigation)
The 6 February 2025 press kit states PINM status (then excluding data centres) should soon be extended to large data centre projects, the CNDP public-debate scope will be revised to exclude data centre projects, and litigation against data centre projects will be simplified (including removing the double degree of jurisdiction), with an expected gain of 9 to 18 months. The PINM part was later enacted by article 35 of Loi n° 2026-403 of 26 May 2026 (see PP-FR-009); no opened source shows the CNDP or litigation measures were enacted.
Electricity tax reduction of EUR 10.5/MWh for large data centres
The government press kit of 6 February 2025 lists, among incentives for electro-intensive users, a tax reduction of EUR 10.5/MWh for large data centres, subject to conditions including environmental performance.
10.5 EUR/MWh tax reduction Press kit lists it under 'Incitations gouvernementales pour les utilisateurs électro-intensifs' with no law, article or date. The DGE guide (Nov 2025) does not mention any electricity tax, accise or reduced rate for data centres, so no opened source confi
35 sites identified in metropolitan France for data centre projects (Faire de la France une puissance de l'IA)
The Comité interministériel de l'IA press kit of 6 February 2025 lists 35 sites in metropolitan France suited to data centres by energy, land and availability. Its infographic shows 'jusqu'à 1 GW' and '1 200 ha' without saying whether these are per-site or total figures; site areas range from 18 to 150+ ha, grid connection is possible from 2027, and a dedicated task force supports projects. It states 5 GW of data centre capacity is already being connected.
35 sites
Timeline of data center and power policy in France
| Date | Action | Type | Status | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2026 | Loi n° 2026-403 de simplification de la vie économique: data centres eligible for projet d'intérêt national majeur (art. 35) | Incentive | In force | Parlement / Conseil constitutionnel |
| 1 Nov 2025 | PUE target of 1.20 by 2030 for the largest data centres under the tertiary-sector decree | Efficiency rule | In force | Ministère de la Transition écologique (décret tertiaire), cited by DGE |
| 1 Nov 2025 | Guide to siting data centres and 63 sites identified (DGE and Business France) | Plan or strategy | Announced | Direction générale des Entreprises (DGE) / Business France |
| 1 May 2025 | CRE-approved electrical capacity pre-reservation procedure (fast-track connection) for high-power sites | Grid access | In force | Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE) / RTE |
| 13 Feb 2025 | RTE Schéma décennal de développement du réseau (SDDR) orientations | Plan or strategy | Proposed | RTE (Réseau de transport d'électricité) |
| 6 Feb 2025 | Announced acceleration of permitting for data centre projects (PINM extension, CNDP scope, litigation) | Regulation | Announced | Comité interministériel de l'Intelligence artificielle (Premier ministre) |
| 6 Feb 2025 | Electricity tax reduction of EUR 10.5/MWh for large data centres | Power tariff | Announced | Comité interministériel de l'Intelligence artificielle (Premier ministre) |
| 6 Feb 2025 | 35 sites identified in metropolitan France for data centre projects (Faire de la France une puissance de l'IA) | Plan or strategy | Announced | Comité interministériel de l'Intelligence artificielle (Premier ministre) |
| 1 Jan 2023 | Annual energy and water performance reporting by large data centres under the EU Energy Efficiency Directive | Efficiency rule | In force | European Union / Direction générale des Entreprises (DGE) |
How France compares
Latest official figures for the countries we track.
| Country | Industrial power price | Renewable share | Grid emission factor | Restrictions in force | Incentives in force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | — | 39% (2025) | — | 0 | 2 |
| Bangladesh | — | 2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| France | 104 USD/MWh (2025) | 27% (2025) | 0.02 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 180 USD/MWh (2025) | 58.8% (2025) | 0.34 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 1 | 0 |
| India | 82.1 USD/MWh (2025) | 28.7% (2026) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 5 |
| Indonesia | 62.9 USD/MWh (2024) | 16.3% (2025) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 234 USD/MWh (2025) | 41.3% (2024) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 2 | 0 |
| Japan | — | 23.1% (2024) | 0.45 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 105 USD/MWh (2026) | 21% (2025) | 0.74 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 148 USD/MWh (2025) | 49% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 4 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 97.5 USD/MWh (2026) | 34.7% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Singapore | 189 USD/MWh (2025) | 2.1% (2024) | 0.40 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| South Korea | — | 9.8% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 120 USD/MWh (2026) | 8.8% (2024) | 0.47 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | 234 USD/MWh (2026) | 52.1% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2026) | 1 | 1 |
| United States | 86.2 USD/MWh (2025) | 24% (2025) | 0.35 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 1 |
Questions
Is there a data center moratorium in France?
We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in France as of 8 October 2026. Proposed or announced measures, if any, are listed in the timeline.
What incentives does France offer data centers?
In force: Loi n° 2026-403 de simplification de la vie économique: data centres eligible for projet d'intérêt national majeur (art. 35). Each is listed with its authority and dates on this page.
What does electricity cost for data centers in France?
The industrial electricity price in France was 104 USD/MWh in 2025 (Eurostat nrg_pc_205, band MWH20000-69999, excl. VAT: mean of 2025-S1 0.0995 and 2025-S2 0.0853 = 0.0924 EUR/kWh = 92.4 EUR/MWh; converted at Eurostat ert_bil_eur_a 2025 1.1300 USD/EUR). Data center contracts can differ by voltage level, contract length and location.
How much of France’s electricity is renewable?
Renewables supplied 27% of electricity generation in France in 2025.
Where does this data come from?
Each action comes from a page we opened: a law, regulation, gazette notice, ministry or regulator release, grid operator notice or investment agency page, and only when official text is not available a company or trade publication. A second analyst re-opens the source before an item is published. Government sources are linked on the page; all sources come with the Excel data.
What counts as a restriction or moratorium?
A government or grid operator rule that stops, pauses, caps or conditions new data center capacity or grid connections, for a country or a region within it. Proposals are shown as proposed until they take effect.
How are power prices compared?
We use each country’s official statistics for industrial or non-household electricity, converted to US dollars per MWh at the average rate for the year where needed, and show the year and source. Contract prices for data centers can differ.
How often is it updated?
Countries are reviewed on a rolling schedule and changes are added as they are announced. Each item shows the date of the action.
Choosing a market or a site?
Our analysts prepare country briefings on power, grid access, incentives and permits, with every source, in Excel.