Three strategic sites proposed by EDF for the data centers of tomorrow
On March 3, 2025, EDF launched two calls for expressions of interest (CEI) to offer its land to digital companies looking to establish new data centers in France. The electricity provider highlights a key advantage: these sites have optimal grid connectivity, enabling faster commissioning of data centers.
During the AI Action Summit last February, EDF announced its intention to launch a call for expressions of interest (CEI) aimed at digital companies. Today, that plan is coming to fruition, as EDF prepares to make available its first plots of land for the construction and operation of high-power data centers across France. The goal is to provide “low-carbon electricity, at a competitive price, and available at all times,” promises the electricity provider.
Three to Four Identified Sites
EDF has identified locations that can quickly accommodate industrial projects and benefit from favorable grid connectivity, significantly reducing the time required for project completion by several years. Four sites have been identified. The first CEI concerns the Montereau-Vallée-de-la-Seine site in Seine-et-Marne, while the second will cover two sites in La Maxe and Richemont in Moselle. The fourth site has not yet been disclosed. EDF plans to offer two additional sites by 2026.
EDF lance deux premiers appels à manifestation d’intérêt auprès des entreprises du numérique.
👉 Objectif : leur proposer un accès à des sites adaptés qui peuvent accueillir de nouveaux centres de données en France. #DataCenters #DLDAvr
— EDF (@EDFofficiel) March 3, 2025
Criteria to Meet
Digital operators looking to establish themselves on these sites will need to meet several criteria. EDF states that they must demonstrate both “a solid technical, legal, and financial structure” and “a project compatible with the specific characteristics of each site and existing constraints, particularly in terms of environmental footprint.”
Beyond simply providing land, EDF will also offer tailored support as well as electricity supply and service packages adapted to their needs. At the end of the process, a construction lease may be established between the stakeholders, with the duration and conditions yet to be determined. ■