https://stackpath.ie/radar/europe.xml2026-10-12T06:00:00ZStackPathhttps://stackpath.ie/radar/story/greece-data-centre-grid-bill#greece-bill-data-centre-grid-connections2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Greece's environment and energy ministry has presented a bill on connecting data centres to the grid, Balkan Green Energy News reported on 12 Oct. Sites above 10 MW would go to the transmission operator IPTO (ADMIE), smaller ones to HEDNO, with no splitting of projects. Investors would post €200,000 per MW in guarantees for a three-year connection offer, and at least 60% of consumption would have to be renewable. Sites above 200 MW could get priority if 80% of their power comes from a nearby generator or six-hour storage. IPTO's data-centre connection requests rose from 5 GW to 9 GW in two months this summer, the outlet says. Why it matters: A new national allocation rule. It prices queue positions (€200,000/MW) instead of ranking data centres last as Denmark does: the same queue problem, solved differently. Source: Balkan Green Energy News https://balkangreenenergynews.com/greece-proposes-rules-for-connecting-data-centers-to-power-grid/

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/denmark-grid-priority-plan#denmark-grid-priority-plan-in-force2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Denmark's parliament adopted the emergency plan for the electricity grid (akutplan for elnettet) on 1 Oct, according to the climate and energy ministry. It replaces first-come, first-served with four priority categories; data centres whose main purpose is data processing are in category 4, last, and can be refused if capacity is short, while those tied to critical societal functions go in category 1. Projects of 3 MW or more are handled in pools at least twice a year. The act (no. 866 of 7 October 2026) took effect on 12 October, its section 3 states; it leaves the queue order to ministerial rules. Why it matters: Denmark now ranks most data centres last by law in grid allocation, a direct answer to the grid-access question for one EU country and a model other grid-constrained countries can be measured against. Source: Retsinformation: Act no. 866 of 7 Oct 2026 https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2026/866

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/google-farciennes-belgium#wallonia-refuses-google-farciennes-sambre-water2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Walloon infrastructure minister François Desquesnes refused Google's request to pump up to 600 m³ an hour from the Sambre to cool a merged, larger second building at its Farciennes (Écopôle) campus, citing drought risk and higher-priority uses including cooling at the Tihange nuclear plant, after an appeal by citizen groups (L'Avenir, 7 Oct). The refusal came this summer; its exact date is unchecked. Google says it is reviewing the decision and can appeal to the Conseil d'État within 60 days of notification (L'Avenir). Canopea (5 Oct) reports the site must now use air cooling, and that Google has also filed for two more hyperscale buildings at Saint-Ghislain and one larger building at Feluy. Why it matters: A first water-based limit on a hyperscale campus in Belgium, where Elia already caps data-centre grid allocation: the constraint here is water, not power. It shows how a regional permit can reshape a design that is already under way. Source: L'Avenir https://www.lavenir.net/regions/basse-sambre/aiseau-presles/2026/10/07/projet-de-data-center-de-google-dans-le-hainaut-des-autorites-communales-accueillantes-un-coup-de-frein-ministeriel-et-des-citoyens-mobilises-KK3YCIRF5BEVRB2NE6LACN4FYA/

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/atnorth-varde#varde-approves-atnorth-data-centre-plan2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Varde's municipal council approved the local plan and municipal-plan supplement for a data centre and greenhouse project at Krageris, north of Ølgod, on 6 October, Version2 reported, citing TV Syd. Venstre, the Social Democrats, the Conservatives, Liberal Alliance and the Danish People's Party voted for it; three parties voted against. atNorth is the main developer, with Selected Group to build and run greenhouses heated by the data centre's surplus heat. Version2 gives 174 hectares, with 225,000 m² for the data centre; atNorth's site page lists 500 MW of campus power capacity, 250 MW initially. Residents protested outside the town hall. A four-week complaint period follows publication of the plans; construction is expected to finish in 2030. Why it matters: A local permit for one of Denmark's largest announced campuses, granted days before the national grid-priority law put large data centres last in the connection queue. Whether the site has a grid agreement was not reported. Source: Version2 (citing TV Syd) https://www.version2.dk/artikel/varde-giver-groent-lys-datacenter-til-milliarder

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/finland-grid-priority-law#finland-draft-grid-priority-law-fingrid-backs2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Finland's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is preparing a priority procedure for grid connections that would replace first come, first served with four classes, Yle reported on 10 October: households and smaller firms first, larger industry and smaller data centres second, large data centres and large industrial sites third, storage fourth. A data centre bringing at least 1 MW of flexible generation (by contract, or its own gas or diesel plant) could move up to class two; other industry needs 3 MW. Fingrid, the transmission operator, called the draft well prepared in its consultation response on 9 October, but asked that only capacity backed by grid investment decisions be allocated, that splitting connections must not get round the procedure, and that the flexibility commitment be revised. Why it matters: Fingrid's service shows no free capacity for new connections in southern Finland. Classes would decide which data-centre projects connect first, and could reward sites that add flexible generation, which can mean gas or diesel engines. Yle says the model draws on Denmark and Ireland. Source: Fingrid press release (STT Info) https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/72402238/sahkoverkkoon-liittamisen-etusijamenettely-tarvitaan-nopeasti-kayttoon?lang=fi

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/spain-data-centre-royal-decree#spain-cnmc-report-data-centre-royal-decree2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

The CNMC's report on the draft royal decree for data centres (IPN/CNMC/038/26, dated 22 September) backs conditions on new sites but asks for changes. The draft requires each hour's consumption to be at least 80% matched by renewable output, and 80% of annual use to come from new Spanish renewables commissioned no earlier than 18 months before the site opens; persistent shortfalls could cost a site its grid permits. The CNMC says hours with renewable surpluses or prices of €20/MWh or less could count as met, the new-renewables rule could start lower or phase in to 2030, flexibility should count, and projects already holding grid permits need more than the six months the draft gives them. It notes almost 600 hours of negative day-ahead prices in the first half of 2026. Why it matters: Spain has granted data centres 6.3 GW of transmission access, none yet connected. Ireland already requires 80% additional renewables on an annual basis; Spain's draft adds hourly matching, so how far the final text bends decides how much of that pipeline gets built. Source: CNMC, report IPN/CNMC/038/26 on the draft data-centre royal decree https://www.cnmc.es/expedientes/ipncnmc03826

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/reading-thames-valley-park#reading-thames-valley-park-gas-fuel-cells2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

A planning application to Wokingham Borough Council proposes a data centre of up to 72 MW IT (about 110 MW peak demand) at Thames Valley Park, Earley, replacing three office buildings, Data Centre Review reported on 5 Oct. Only 1.8 MW of grid capacity is available; a 60 MVA connection from SSEN is secured but the reinforcement is not expected until 2037. Phase one would run on 49.9 MW of natural-gas solid-oxide fuel cells, with operation from 2031. Silicon UK notes the site is that of Microsoft's UK headquarters; the developer is not named. Why it matters: A concrete GB case of a 2037 grid date forcing on-site gas. It shows grid queues pushing data centres to their own power rather than stopping them. Source: Data Centre Review (citing the Wokingham application) https://datacentrereview.com/2026/10/reading-data-centre-opts-for-gas-fuel-cells-as-it-waits-for-grid-connection/

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/google-etrechet-france#google-etrechet-indre-resignations2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

At Étrechet, near Châteauroux (Indre), a Google data-centre project of about 200 hectares and 500 MW to 1.1 GW would need a new 400 kV RTE line, franceinfo reported on 6 Oct. Four councillors resigned on 14 Sep and the mayor the next day; six elected officials have now left, citing a lack of transparency. Google says the project is at an early stage, with construction expected from 2027. The national public-debate commission (CNDP) holds a non-binding debate in November. Why it matters: It would be Google's first French data centre, on one of the 55 government "turnkey" sites. Local resistance on a state-backed site tests whether France's fast-track list moves projects or only relocates fights. Source: franceinfo https://www.franceinfo.fr/environnement/pres-de-chateauroux-le-mega-data-center-de-google-divise_8223844.html

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/scotland-data-centre-guidance#holyrood-opens-hyperscale-data-centre-inquiry2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

The Scottish Parliament's Climate Action Committee has opened an inquiry into the environmental impacts of hyperscale data centres, with the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee; the call for views closes 15 Nov 2026. The committee notes there are no hyperscale data centres in Scotland at the outset. In an 8 Oct letter, Hannah Mary Goodlad, Minister for Public Finance, replying as the minister responsible for planning, confirmed national planning guidance on data centres will be published before Christmas 2026, with a wider strategic approach in 2026-27. Data Centre Review, citing NESO, says close to 30 projects seek about 9.7 GW of grid connections in Scotland. Why it matters: Scotland has an effective pause: the First Minister said no applications are expected to be determined before the guidance. The guidance date now sets when Scotland's queue of about 9.7 GW starts to move or stall. Source: Scottish Parliament, Climate Action Committee inquiry page https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-7/climate-action-committee/business-items/inquiry-into-the-environmental-impacts-of-hyperscale-data-centres

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/google-finland-muhos-kajaani#finland-halts-google-muhos-kajaani-works2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Finland's Licensing and Supervision Agency (LVV) ordered Tuike Finland, a company representing Google, to stop tree felling, excavation and other land-altering work at its Muhos and Kajaani sites until environmental impact assessments are done, by 23 October at the latest, and to explain its plans by 14 October, Euronews reported. The agency is examining whether hundreds of hectares were cleared without a mandatory assessment. Google said it had fallen short of its own standards and would follow the agency's guidance. The sites are part of a programme of at least €13 billion over 2027–2028 that Google announced on 9 September 2026. Why it matters: Environmental assessment, not grid, is the brake here: a regulator stopping site works on one of Europe's largest announced data-centre investments. Source: Euronews https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/07/finland-orders-pause-on-google-ai-data-centre-over-environmental-concerns

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/spain-grid-planning#catalonia-asks-madrid-approve-grid-plan-before-election2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Generalitat spokesperson and minister Sílvia Paneque asked the Spanish government to approve Red Eléctrica's transmission planning through the Diputación Permanente before the 29 November general election, so that it guarantees connection points for projects including the AI gigafactory at Móra la Nova (Tarragona), desalination plants and new industrial substations (El Periódico de la Energía, 9 Oct, citing Europa Press). The government has begun bilateral meetings with the regions; some are still pending. The article gives no MW figures. Why it matters: Spain's grid plan sets where new large loads can connect. The election could delay it at the same time as the data-centre royal decree, so both of Spain's grid-access rules for data centres hang on the calendar. Source: El Periódico de la Energía https://elperiodicodelaenergia.com/cataluna-pide-al-gobierno-aprobar-la-planificacion-de-red-electrica-antes-del-29n/

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/eu-data-centre-rating-scheme#eu-adopts-data-centre-rating-scheme2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

The Commission adopted a delegated regulation (C(2026)3472) on 21 September setting up a common EU rating scheme for data centres with more than 500 kW of capacity, based on the energy and water data they report under the Energy Efficiency Directive. It also covers waste-heat reuse, new clean generation and flexibility. Parliament and Council have two months to object but cannot amend it. The Commission expects the first labels in 2027 and a review by end-2028. The same package opened a consultation on minimum performance standards for data centres, open until 14 December. Citing the IEA, the Commission puts EU data-centre electricity use at about 68 TWh in 2024, heading for 114 TWh by 2030. Why it matters: The label turns the EU's reporting database into public grades for each site. Spain's regulator wants its draft decree's efficiency limits aligned with it, and the minimum-standards consultation is the step from grading sites towards limits. Source: European Commission press release IP/26/1667 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_1667

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/eu-ai-gigafactories-call#eurohpc-extends-ai-gigafactory-call-to-3-december2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

A change notice on TED (674672-2026, published 1 October) moves the deadline for bids in EuroHPC's call for AI gigafactory consortia (EUROHPC/2026/OP/0008) from 12 November to 3 December 2026, 17:00 CET, with requests for information due by 25 November. The stated reason is a request from the European Commission. The call seeks up to seven consortia: four medium-scale (lot 1, estimated at €4bn) and three large-scale (lot 2, €6bn), €10bn in estimated value. EuroHPC's call page shows the new date; its 30 July launch release still gave 12 November when checked on 11 October. Why it matters: AI gigafactories are the EU's main public bet on frontier-scale compute against the US build-out. Three more weeks gives national consortia time to line up sites, power and money; EuroHPC plans selection in early 2027. Source: TED change notice 674672-2026 (EuroHPC JU) https://ted.europa.eu/en/notice/-/detail/674672-2026

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/ofgem-connections-reform#ofgem-consults-self-build-transmission-connections2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Ofgem on 7 Oct proposed that demand, generation and storage customers may build all sole-use assets from their connection point to the existing transmission system (lines, project substations) and transfer them to the transmission owner, dropping today's limit of sites within 2 km. The consultation, under the Connect strand of its demand connections reform, closes 13 Nov 2026. The same day Ofgem rejected the industry modifications CMP330 and CMP374 on the 2 km limit. Why it matters: Would let large loads such as data centres speed up their own connection works instead of waiting for the network owner. It is a proposal, not yet a rule, and follows the data-centre connections consultation that closed on 17 Sep. Source: Ofgem consultation page https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consultation/enabling-greater-self-build-transmission-connections

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/drax-selby-data-centre#drax-narrows-data-centre-plan-yorkshire-agz-rejected2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Drax told Montel it is focusing on a 0.6 GW data-centre development at its biomass power station site in the short and medium term; earlier plans were for up to 1.2 GW, which is now only a possibility (Montel, 9 Oct). The Yorkshire Post reported on 9 Oct that officials confirmed the York and North Yorkshire AI Growth Zone bid, which centred on Drax, was rejected, while Drax's data-centre plan proceeds. Why it matters: A large UK campus scaled back by half, and a government programme passing over a region: both are stall signals, reported as readily as the announcements. Source: Montel News (paywalled; headline facts) https://montelnews.com/news/f10ba3fa-8575-4f61-8c35-cda256e7be28/1-2-gw-uk-data-centre-only-possibility-as-drax-halves-ambition

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/wbs-power-trzebnica#wbs-power-drops-trzebnica-plot-1-6gw2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

WBS Power 3, linked to the renewables developer WBS Power, has withdrawn from buying a plot in Trzebnica, Lower Silesia, where it planned a data centre with a 1.6 GW grid connection, the local paper NOWagazeta.pl reported on 2 October; a land-register entry of 3 September deletes the purchase claim. The seller's president said the distribution operator Tauron had not guaranteed enough power. Neither WBS Power, Tauron nor the town has confirmed that reason. The town's change to its local plan, begun in January, is still under way; a councillor has asked whether it should continue. BeBeez republished DatacenterDynamics' report on 9 October. Why it matters: A gigawatt-scale request that a regional distribution grid reportedly could not serve: Polish grids face the same mismatch as western Europe's, and our grid-queue table has no Polish row yet. Source: NOWagazeta.pl https://nowagazeta.pl/artykul/po-naszej-publikacji-n1864374

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/denmark-grid-priority-plan#denmark-grid-priority-law-866-in-force2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

The amendment to Denmark's Electricity Supply Act (Act no. 866 of 7 October 2026, published in the Lovtidende on 8 October) takes effect on 12 October, its section 3 states. The act does not itself list priority categories: it empowers the climate, energy and utilities minister to set rules on how grid companies prioritise connection requests, including grid-friendliness, what applicants must document, how allocated capacity is used and when requests can be refused. The four categories, with certain large consumers such as data centres last, come from the June political agreement and the ministry's statements. Why it matters: It confirms the change at the primary source and shows where the detail sits: the minister, not parliament, sets and can change the queue order and the grid-friendliness test, so how data centres fare depends on executive orders. Source: Retsinformation, Lov nr. 866 af 7. oktober 2026 https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2026/866

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/sesterce-jamsa#sesterce-plans-600mw-jamsa-campus2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

French AI infrastructure firm Sesterce plans a $10 billion data-centre campus at the former Kaipola paper mill in Jämsä, Finland: 200 MW in a first phase rising to 600 MW, with work due to start in 2026, Konsulteer reported on 9 October, citing DatacenterDynamics. The company says it will use the existing grid and enable 1 MW of new renewable generation for each MW consumed within ten years of operation. No permit or grid-connection status was reported. Why it matters: Finland is drawing gigawatt-scale AI campuses to former industrial sites with grid capacity; this one has no reported permit or grid status yet. Source: Konsulteer (citing DatacenterDynamics) https://www.konsulteer.com/article/sesterce-plans-10-billion-600mw-ai-data-centre-campus-at-former-paper-mill-in-j-ms-finland

https://stackpath.ie/radar/story/eu-ai-gigafactories-italy#italy-ai-gigafactory-bid-revived2026-10-12T06:00:00Z2026-10-12T06:00:00Z

Poste Italiane chief executive Matteo Del Fante said Italy's bid for an EU AI gigafactory had nearly been lost three months ago and was revived with TIM, Eni and Leonardo, Adnkronos reported on 7 October. The equity and a new company are still being negotiated. The main site discussed is an Eni data centre near Pavia; a Milan-area site at the former Falck works in Sesto San Giovanni is also being considered. The EuroHPC call closes on 3 December 2026. Why it matters: AI gigafactories are the EU's flagship answer on compute; whether Italy can field a consortium shows how much of it is real by the 3 December deadline. Source: Adnkronos https://www.adnkronos.com/economia/poste-tim-gigafactory-ai-matteo-del-fante-eni-leonardo_5g7XrzSvhBBI1WFAlB9WQM