French companies expand data center projects

Multiple major companies in France are developing new data center projects across various regions. Google, for example, is advancing two new data center projects in Seine-et-Marne, a department in the Île-de-France region.

EDF's data center initiatives

EDF, the French electricity company, is also expanding its presence in the data center sector by planning six projects on sites of former thermal power plants. This move reflects a shift in energy infrastructure toward digital needs.

TotalEnergies and Dassault’s projects

TotalEnergies, a multinational energy company, has one data center project in Seine-Maritime, while the Dassault group, known for its aerospace and defense industries, is developing one in Argenteuil, in the Val-d’Oise department.

Amundi's data center in Saint-Denis

Amundi, one of the world’s largest asset management firms, has a data center project in Saint-Denis, located in the Seine-Saint-Denis department. This aligns with the growing interest in data centers among financial and industrial leaders.

Surge in electricity demand for data centers

According to information obtained by Lighthouse Reports and Mediapart, RTE, the electricity network manager in France, recorded 143 connection requests for data centers in May 2026. This indicates a significant increase in demand for electricity to power these facilities.

Opaque electricity reservations

Major industrial groups are reserving large amounts of electricity in a largely opaque manner to position themselves on the data center market in France, according to reports by Mediapart and Lighthouse Reports. This practice raises questions about transparency and long-term energy planning.