Aragón industrial sector warns of grid saturation and data center pressure

The industrial sector in Aragón is facing significant challenges due to electrical grid saturation. Susana Alejandro Balet, president of the paper and cardboard group Saica, has warned that the lack of sufficient connection points could force industries to close or relocate, as the current infrastructure acts as a bottleneck for new investments, expansions, and decarbonization projects.

This energy pressure is being driven by a surge in demand from renewable energy projects, new factories, and data centers. A study by the University of Zaragoza highlights the scale of this tension, noting that implementing the 8 GW of power required for announced data centers would necessitate covering between 29% and 39% of Aragón's territory with renewable energy.

Local activist groups, such as 'No es sequía, es saqueo', have criticized the Spanish government's proposed regulations for the data center sector. They argue the measures are late, insufficient, and fail to provide adequate territorial planning, potentially leading to uncontrolled mega-projects that impact land use and environmental stability.