The Association of Spanish providers of 'cloud' and 'data center' services (Apecdata) has presented its objections to the draft royal decree that will establish the requirements for energy and environmental sustainability, as well as the conditions for resilience and digital sovereignty that data centers must meet.
The draft, conceived to regulate the permits for access and connection to the electricity transport and distribution networks, responds to the announced arrival of large international operators who, according to the sector, do not fit with an orderly development of the country's electrical infrastructure.
Apecdata demands a balanced framework that favors sustainability without undermining competitiveness, and positively highlights that the text is aligned with the European "Cloud and AI Development Act" (CADA).
The employers' association even calls for a deeper alignment regarding digital sovereignty, emphasizing that, in an increasingly digitized economy, it is crucial to precisely establish the requirements for those who safeguard the data of citizens, companies, and public administrations.
It reminds that Europe starts from an advantageous position in terms of privacy protection and considers it essential to maintain a high level of demand for those responsible for processing, that is, the data centers.
In terms of sustainability, Apecdata warns that the proposed requirements are particularly strict and could become an obstacle for already established operators.
For this reason, it proposes raising the threshold from 1 to 5 megawatts (MW) from which the obligations apply, with the aim of safeguarding smaller facilities, such as business data centers, shared spaces, and small 'data centers', whose contribution to the project's global objectives is limited.
The association also proposes that the royal decree be harmonized with the European regulation in preparation, which takes into account elements such as the climatic zone, water availability, or the cooling system used, whether by air or water.
Among the central aspects of its objections is also the request that the percentage of energy from non-fossil sources be calculated in annual equivalent hours and not hour by hour, given that the main renewable sources stop producing during the night.
In addition, Apecdata suggests adjustments to strengthen the legal security of the text, better profile its sanctioning regime, and coordinate it with two other Royal Decrees that are being processed and that also affect the activity of data centers.