Business · Energy & Commodities · 11 hrs ago
Spain caps data center capacity at 9.3 GW in grid plan to 2030
Spain's government has presented a plan to expand the electricity grid through 2030, with new capacity for homes, industry and other large users.
The plan would make room for 47.4 gigawatts of additional electricity demand, a major increase over the current plan.
Data centers sought capacity for up to 22 GW, but the plan reserves 9.3 GW for data centers, including projects already being built.
Industry is allocated 14.9 GW, renewable hydrogen 12.4 GW and housing 6 GW, reflecting the government's priorities for connecting new users.
The grid expansion is expected to cost 17.142 billion euros and includes new lines and substations.
Sara Aagesen presented the plan to Congress, and the cabinet is expected to approve it soon.
Spain’s electricity grid plan to 2030 reserves 9,300 MW of capacity for data centers, including projects already being built and those planned.
The allocation is less than half of the up to 22,000 MW sought by data center projects.
The plan allocates more capacity to industry, at 14,900 MW, and renewable hydrogen and derivatives, at 12,400 MW.
It provides for €17.142 billion in investment and 47,400 MW of new demand across Spain.
Energy Minister Sara Aagesen presented the plan to a parliamentary body before its expected approval by the Council of Ministers.
- Who
- Spain’s government, presented by Energy Minister Sara Aagesen.
- What
- The electricity grid plan to 2030 reserves 9,300 MW for data centers.
- When
- Presented on November 12, 2026; approval by the Council of Ministers was expected soon.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- To develop the electricity transmission grid and meet new demand, prioritising projects described as mature and helping avoid speculative applications and hoarding access points.
Spanish government
Guillermo Mariscal, Popular Party
Capacity planning
Spanish government
The government plan allocates capacity by sector, including 14,900 MW for industry and 9,300 MW for data centers.
Guillermo Mariscal, Popular Party
Mariscal criticised that a substantial part of the investments had already been planned but not carried out.
The previous grid plan was approved with less than 2,000 MW of new-demand requests.
The government presented an initial plan proposing €13.59 billion in investment and 27 GW of new demand.
Aagesen presented the plan to the Permanent Deputation of Congress as its final formal step before approval.
The Council of Ministers was expected to approve the plan.
- Data center capacity
- 9,300 MW
- Industry capacity
- 14,900 MW
- Renewable hydrogen and derivatives capacity
- 12,400 MW
- Total new demand
- 47,400 MW
- Planned investment
- €17.142 billion
- Grid lines
- 6,707 kilometres of new lines and 8,164 kilometres to be upgraded
3 sources
What people are saying
I don’t think I could ever have spoken, as an engineer, about demand increases of 2,000%.
prioritises industry and housing
a good part of these investments had already been planned but had not been carried out