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Spain revises data center regulations to ease green energy requirements
The Spanish government has revised a draft royal decree intended to regulate the installation and operation of data centers. Following criticism from the technology and energy sectors, as well as a report from the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC), the executive branch has softened several controversial environmental mandates.
Under the new proposal, the regulation will only apply to large-scale data centers with a capacity exceeding 10 megawatts, a significant increase from the initial 1-megawatt threshold. While the government maintains a goal of ensuring 80% of demand is backed by renewable energy, it has introduced a five-year moratorium for facilities that join the automatic power reduction system (SRAP). These facilities would only need to cover 60% of their consumption with green energy during certain periods until 2028.
In exchange for this flexibility, the system operator, Red Eléctrica, will have the authority to order these centers to reduce their load to zero or disconnect them entirely during grid contingencies without compensation. The government aims to approve the decree before the general elections on November 29 to avoid the legal limitations faced by a caretaker government.
Entities
Council of State · National Commission on Markets and Competition · Red Eléctrica · Spain · Spanish Government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The revision follows a critical report from the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC). www.elcorreoweb.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The government aims to approve the decree before the November 29 elections. www.elmundo.es · www.elcorreoweb.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The text has been sent to the Council of State for study. www.elmundo.es · www.elcorreoweb.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Spanish government revised the royal decree regulating data centers. www.elmundo.es · www.elcorreoweb.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Red Eléctrica can order data centers to reduce load to zero or disconnect them without compensation. www.elmundo.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] The regulation now applies only to data centers with more than 10 megawatts of power. www.elcorreoweb.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] SRAP-adhering centers must cover 60% of consumption with green energy in certain time slots until 2028. www.elmundo.es
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Facilities adhering to the automatic power reduction system (SRAP) receive a five-year moratorium. www.elmundo.es