EDF and Data4: Landmark Contract to Power Data Centers with Nuclear Electricity

By signing a 12-year Nuclear Power Supply Agreement (CAPN) covering 40 MW of nuclear capacity, EDF and Data4 are opening a new chapter in the decarbonization of data centers. This strategic partnership secures Data4’s electricity supply and illustrates France’s ambition to attract digital players through low-carbon and competitive energy.

EDF and Data4, a major European data center operator, have taken an unprecedented step by signing a 12-year CAPN. With this agreement, Data4 becomes the very first data center operator to conclude such a partnership with EDF. The contract grants the company a 40 MW share of nuclear capacity, which will power its three data center campuses located in France. The first electricity deliveries are scheduled for 2026, with an estimated annual volume of around 230 GWh.

A contract offering a decisive strategic advantage for Data4…

In a context where, according to a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), data center consumption is expected to more than double by 2030[1], securing abundant low-carbon energy is becoming a critical challenge. Thanks to this agreement, Data4 will be able to address two major issues: guaranteeing the energy security of its infrastructure while limiting the carbon footprint of its operations.

By securing its energy supply, Data4 can also stabilize its long-term costs while committing “to operate its data centers in a more sustainable way and to meet both customer expectations and climate requirements,” the company explained. Marc Benayoun, EDF’s Executive Vice President in charge of the Customers, Services & Territories Division, welcomed the initiative: “This approach is fully in line with EDF’s commitment to supporting the development of data centers in France as well as the country’s energy and industrial sovereignty.”

EDF’s strategy

More broadly, such contracts also enable EDF to respond to the Élysée’s objective of maintaining industrial competitiveness and attracting data centers to France, where they can access abundant low-carbon electricity to cut their greenhouse gas emissions[2]. Earlier this year, during the AI Summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron himself urged operators of data centers (and artificial intelligence) to set up in France with his now-famous call: “Plug, baby, plug,” highlighting the benefits of the country’s low-carbon power.

Last March, EDF launched two calls for expressions of interest (AMI) to offer its land to digital companies looking to build new data centers in France. The utility highlights a key advantage: these sites are already optimally connected to the grid, enabling faster commissioning of data centers.

In recent weeks, EDF has been signing a series of CAPN contracts or similar agreements with industrial players. These include Lafarge France, the seven French sites of Kem One (Fos-sur-Mer, Lavera, Balan, Berre, Saint-Fons, Saint-Auban and Vauvert), Arkema (Jarrie), Marcegaglia (Ascometal in Fos-sur-Mer), and Aluminium Dunkerque. ■