Extremadura asked the Spanish Government to withdraw the Draft Royal Decree project aimed at regulating the energy consumption of data centers, considering that the new rules could compromise strategic investments and cause projects to relocate to other European countries. The protest centers especially on the requirement that 80% of the energy consumed each hour be generated during that same hour, associated with new renewable production. The Junta of Extremadura argues that the proposed regulation is more restrictive than European legislation.
Five large data centers are planned in the Spanish region, with a total investment exceeding 25 billion euros, located in Badajoz, Cáceres, Mérida, Navalmoral de la Mata and Valdecaballeros. Among these projects is the Nostrum Evergreen Data Center in Badajoz, intended for data processing and artificial intelligence. The Official Gazette of Extremadura published on September 7 the resolution granting Data Riocaya prior administrative authorization for electrical infrastructure for the center.
Portugal could benefit from this situation, as Badajoz is located near the border and directly linked to the Elvas-Badajoz axis. The proximity and economic connection between the two territories place the region in a relevant geographic position in a race involving tens of thousands of millions of euros. Spain's final decision on the new rules could determine whether the country maintains its planned trajectory or whether part of the investments seek alternatives in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
According to the annual report of SpainDC — the Spanish Data Center Association — data centers could mobilize 66.9 billion euros in direct and indirect investment in Spain between 2026 and 2030, if current market conditions are maintained.
