Los inversores en centros de datos piden un marco regulatorio estable

Inversors in data centers call for stable regulatory framework

Investors in data centers expressed surprise after the announced Real Decreto for the sector, requesting a stable and reasonable regulatory framework to maintain investor attraction. Major data center investors were reportedly taken aback by the decree, requesting a stable regulatory framework to avoid legal uncertainty and attract new investments, as highlighted during the second session of the Data Centers Expansion Meeting, organized by EXPANSIÓN with support from the Aragon Government, CEEI Aragón, Schneider Electric, Endesa, and Consolis Tecnyconta in Zaragoza’s Ibercaja Xplora Space.

Begoña Villacís, Executive Director of Spain DC (Association of Spanish Data Centers), expressed surprise at the decree’s existence without prior sector consultation, stating that it does not share any of the restrictions it includes. Villacís noted that the data centers consume only 0.8% of energy compared to 21% in Ireland and that the decree’s constraints are unjustified.

She emphasized that the decree is prohibitive, likening it to a ban. Villacís believes the decree will not attract new investments, as no one appears capable of meeting its stringent conditions.

Peter Knapp, General Director of Tillion Data Center, a subsidiary of Azora specializing in large-scale data center infrastructures in Europe, noted Spain’s negative shift in global positioning. He expressed calmness, citing similar processes in other countries eventually leading to a positive regulatory framework. Inversors seek a stable regulatory framework, knowing the rules, even if difficult to follow, as capital is fearful and concerns are significant, worth billions of investments.

Bruno Bravo, Director of Pre-development at QTS Data Centers, highlighted the Group’s promotion of a data center campus in Villamayor de Gállego (Zaragoza) with investments exceeding €2.3 billion. The industry seeks data center-specific regulation aligned with decarbonization, energy efficiency, and water consumption efficiency, as well as a regulation that can be followed, is reasonable, and consensually agreed upon by private sector, associations, and the government, Bravo stated.

American large-scale data center company Blackstone recently received a free pass from the Aragon Government for its Calatorao (Zaragoza) campus, with investments surpassing €13.4 billion. The project, designed over three years with infrastructure infrastructure already closed and permits granted, is challenging to implement under the current Real Decreto. Inversors hope for a flexibility in the decree, adding that it is crucial for attracting investments.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), owned by Blackstone, maintains its projects in Spain. AWS Director of Public Policy Infrastructure and Energy for Spain and Portugal, David Blázquez, assured that the uncertainty affects not only investors but also those working on projects and their families, with whom AWS has a commitment alongside over 100 Aragonese local companies.

Blázquez, investing around €33.7 billion in Spain’s data center infrastructure, urged the government to embrace Europeanism firmly and participate in discussions to prevent Spain from moving at a different pace than European discourse.

Microsoft’s Director of Community Relations for Spain and Greece, Ana Liesa, emphasized the need for legal certainty and predictability, stating that the company is an ambassador of Spain in decision-making locations. Facing similar scenarios as the Real Decreto, Microsoft finds it difficult to compete against jurisdictions with more stable and clear regulatory frameworks in the short or long term.