France faces delays and protests over AI data center expansion

France is attempting to attract massive investments for AI-dedicated data centers to bolster technological sovereignty and reduce European dependence on American and Chinese infrastructure. Major projects include a 200-megawatt site proposed by an Iliad subsidiary in Strasbourg and a 4-billion-euro project led by EDF, OpCore, and Eclairion in Seine-et-Marne.

However, the industry faces significant hurdles. Sector leaders report that obtaining necessary permits, electrical connections, and environmental authorizations can take up to two and a half years.

In Seine-et-Marne, a proposed 50-billion-euro AI campus consisting of 11 data centers has sparked intense local opposition. The collective ‘Stop Campus IA’ and environmental groups are protesting the project, citing concerns over the loss of agricultural land, massive energy consumption of 1.4 gigawatts, and the potential for heat islands. Opponents warn that the heat generated could be equivalent to that of 200,000 households, potentially raising local temperatures by two degrees.