The Spanish government is preparing a new draft decree to establish stricter environmental and security requirements for data centers. The proposed rules, which will be open for public consultation this week, target water usage, energy efficiency, and cybersecurity protocols for facilities that have recently expanded across the country. According to government sources, the measures aim to ensure that new infrastructure meets specific sustainability standards as Spain becomes a major European hub for artificial intelligence.
Under the proposed regulations, data center operators must be established within the European Union (EU) and maintain all data and metadata within EU borders. The draft decree includes mechanisms to control access from countries outside the EU and sets higher security standards for facilities handling national security information or data from public entities. The water and energy efficiency requirements are intended to align with the highest tiers of a sustainability labeling system currently being developed by the EU.
Energy regulations in the draft decree would require data centers to cover at least 80% of their hourly power consumption with renewable energy. Additionally, for every new megawatt (MW) of energy a facility uses, a corresponding megawatt of new renewable energy must have been installed within the 18 months prior to the start of operations. These energy requirements can be met through long-term contracts or locally installed power facilities. Failure to comply could result in the loss of a facility's right to connect to the national power grid.
The scale of the energy requirements is substantial; by requiring 80% renewable coverage for every hour of operation, the government is placing the burden of grid stability and green energy sourcing directly on the operators. For a facility using 10 MW of power, this translates to maintaining 8 MW of renewable supply at all times, potentially increasing operational costs or requiring significant upfront investment in power purchase agreements. This shift mirrors the existing regulatory framework for green hydrogen production in Spain, setting a precedent that high-intensity energy consumers must directly stimulate new renewable energy construction.
What happens next: The draft decree will be opened for public consultation during the week of August 25, 2026. Following the consultation period, the government will determine the final text and the effective date for the new requirements. Facilities already undergoing the permitting process will be closely monitoring the finalization of the decree to determine if they must adjust their infrastructure or energy sourcing plans within the six-month grace period to maintain their grid access.