El Gobierno abre una excepción al decreto de centros de datos para excluir de sus exigencias la gigafactoría catalana de IA

The Spanish government has introduced an exception to the decree regulating data centers to exclude certain data centers from meeting its stringent requirements, specifically aimed at preserving the ambitious AI-focused gigafactory project in Tarragona. This clause in the revised decree allows the government to exempt any data center it deems "critically important" from complying with the decree's demands, which include strict energy, water and lighting efficiency standards.

The government is particularly focused on protecting the Catalan AI gigafactory project, which is estimated to cost around €5 billion and is viewed as politically crucial for the government and its allies. The project, which has drawn interest from over 75 European initiatives, is competing to be one of the first four AI gigafactories selected by the European Union.

The project, promoted by a consortium including Telefónica, ACS and Banco Santander, would be operated 47.99% by the Spanish government through Sociedad Española para la Transformación Tecnológica (SETT), with the Catalan government holding a 1% stake in the initial phase. If the government applies the exception, up to 90% of the committed investments, totaling €67 billion between 2026 and 2030, could be at risk of being relocated to other countries.