How France is set to Become a Data Centre Powerhouse
France is set to become a significant data centre powerhouse, according to Aurora Energy Research, as electricity demand is due to surge 74% by 2050.
The research finds that the French data centre sector is experiencing a boom, given its new digitalised economy. With more than 250 data centres already in operation across the country, France is leveraging its low-carbon electricity mix and strategic position in Europe to attract even more investment in digital infrastructure.
This surge in growth is backed by a massive pipeline of 11GW of data centre capacity awaiting grid connection, which Aurora Energy Research says reflects the growing appetite for digital services.
“Data centre placement in France has many strategic benefits, from stable decarbonised power from the nuclear fleet, to a central position interconnected to the global information network through undersea cables,” says Jonathan Hoare, Product Manager in France at Aurora Energy Research.
Charting rapid industrial growth
Estimations indicate that data centre electricity usage in France has already tripled since 2019, rising from 3 TWh to 10 TWh in 2022. Aurora says this now accounts for 2.2% of the nation’s total electricity consumption, with demand expected to continue rising sharply – particularly as AI-driven workloads increase.
According to Aurora analysis, unlike other sectors, data centres exhibit highly stable electricity demand throughout the day, varying by only 5% intraday.
However, it suggests that seasonal variations of up to 23% occur due to cooling needs, which can represent up to 40% of total energy consumption for these facilities.
France remains very attractive as a data centre hub given its 20 submarine cable connections that reinforce its links to global digital traffic routes. These also bolster its strategic value for data-heavy industries.
France’s attractiveness as a hub is further reinforced by its 20 submarine cable connections, linking it to global digital traffic routes and enhancing its strategic value for data-heavy industries.
This data centre-driven surge comes as part of a broader rebound in France’s industrial electricity demand, Aurora says. Total demand rose for the first time in 2024, with analysis by Aurora forecasting a 20% increase in industrial electricity demand by 2060.
Specifically, this will be driven by economic growth and electrification, despite the offsetting effects of improved energy efficiency.
Committing to sustainability
Energy efficiency improvements in France’s data centre sector have reduced Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) from over 2.5 in 2007 to approximately 1.5 today. Modern data centres can achieve PUE ratings of 1.1, with further efficiency gains expected as the sector matures.
The PUE metric measures the ratio of electricity consumed to power the entire data centre versus electricity consumed by IT equipment alone. Lower PUE values indicate more efficient operations, with cooling systems representing the largest opportunity for improvement.
Aurora’s analysis indicates that AI-driven workloads will continue driving demand growth, particularly as AI applications require more computational resources. With this in mind, Aurora expects France to serve as a hub for this expansion across Europe.
"We expect to see this demand increase globally but France in particular will be a hub for this expansion in Europe – the 11GW potential pipeline is testament to that," Jonathan says.
Major data centre investors in France
Aurora’s analysis highlights the urgent need for coordinated action among policymakers, regulators and energy providers to ensure that the grid can support this structural shift in demand.
This, the organisation says, will enable both industrial growth and digital transformation.
Big industry players are already investing extensively in France, with data centre companies like Digital Realty, Mistral, Data4, Microsoft and soon to be Google – to name a few – very eager to boost AI and cloud capabilities within the region.
Given Europe’s huge commitment to advancing sustainable AI progress, France is well-positioned to lead the charge.