TITLE III / Chapter I – Data centre acceleration zones (Art. 10-13)
Art. 10 Cloud and AI Development Act - Designation of data centre acceleration zones arrow_right_alt
- Where data centre capacity is being deployed within the territory of a Member State, that Member State shall designate at least one data centre acceleration zone (‘acceleration zone’) within its territory by [P.O. insert the date of entry into force of this Regulation plus 6 months]. Member States shall consider the following aspects when designating acceleration zones:
- the location and dimension of the site or area, and the minimum and maximum size of the facilities that could be built on that site or area;
- the available and future power grid capacity and the possibility and conditions for on-site storage and clean energy generation;
- the available and future network connectivity capacity;
- the capacity of the zone to support the phasing out of legacy copper networks;
- the available and future facilities that can reuse data centre waste heat;
- all the measures taken to accelerate the granting of the necessary permits for constructing and operating data centres within the given zone;
- the preference for reusing brownfield sites over using greenfield sites;
- the ability of the site or area to function sustainably, particularly as regards preventing or minimising environmental impacts and supporting the reduction of carbon emissions and its climate resilience.
- Member States, where appropriate to facilitate the development of acceleration zones, shall:
- conduct, and review at least every three years, a comprehensive analysis of the energy needs and their respective impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, of current and future acceleration zones and identify the required energy infrastructure capacity for the proper functioning and development of data centre projects located in the acceleration zones. Such analysis shall be conducted, at least, when designating the acceleration zones pursuant to paragraph 1;
- ensure that the network development plans prepared by transmission system operators pursuant to Article 51 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 of the European Parliament and of the Council and distribution system operators pursuant to Article 32 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 take due account of the analysis prepared pursuant to point (a) of this paragraph, considering the potential of anticipatory investments to accommodate future system needs.
- National, regional and local authorities responsible for preparing spatial and development plans shall consider including, in those plans, provisions for the development of data centre projects deployed in acceleration zones, and of the necessary infrastructure. Member States shall ensure that all relevant spatial planning data are available to data centre operators. Where those plans are subject to an assessment pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC, those assessments shall be combined. Where applicable, the combined assessment shall also address the impact on potentially affected water bodies referred to in Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
- When designating acceleration zones, Member States shall ensure the involvement of and coordination among all relevant national, regional and local authorities and entities, including operators as defined in Article 2, point (29), of Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council, transmission system operators as defined in Article 2, point (35), of Directive (EU) 2019/944 and distribution system operators as defined in Article 2, point (29), of Directive (EU) 2019/944.
Art. 11 Cloud and AI Development Act - Conditions within acceleration zones arrow_right_alt
- When setting sustainability requirements for data centres deployed in acceleration zones, Member States shall use the key performance indicators specified in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364 pursuant to Directive (EU) 2023/1791 under Annex II, from (a) to (n).
- Member States shall ensure that the allocation and use of resources within acceleration zones takes place on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and does not give rise to speculative reservation or foreclosure practices capable of impeding effective competition or the effective development or use of those zones.
Art. 12 Cloud and AI Development Act - Single information points arrow_right_alt
- The data centre operator shall have the right, upon request, to be assisted by a single information point throughout the entire lifecycle of the data centre project in an acceleration zone with respect to all authorisations required for the deployment of the data centre. For that purpose, Member States shall designate one or more single information points for data centre operators of data centre projects in acceleration zones. The Member States may designate for this purpose a single information point established under Regulation (EU) 2024/1309. The functions, procedures and mechanisms applicable to such single information points under Regulation (EU) 2024/1309, including those relating to digital access, administrative coordination and dispute settlement, shall also apply.
- The role of a single information point may include, among other things, coordinating, facilitating, monitoring and sharing information on the procedure relating to:
- spatial planning and building permits;
- environmental assessments, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2026/XXXX [on speeding-up environmental assessments];
- authorisations regarding water abstraction, wastewater discharge, and heat utilisation and recovery;
- compliance with applicable administrative and reporting obligations;
- information to the public, with the aim of increasing public acceptance of the data centre project;
- applications for connection to the electricity, heat or communications networks, or to other relevant networks.
- The single information point shall assist in assessing whether a data centre project may qualify as a strategic project under Article 14.
- When providing the administrative support and the assistance referred to in this Article, the single point of contact shall pay particular attention to SMEs and, where appropriate, establish a dedicated channel for communication with SMEs to provide guidance and respond to queries related to the implementation of this Regulation.
Art. 13 Cloud and AI Development Act - Facilitating administrative and permit-granting processes arrow_right_alt
- Data centre projects deployed in acceleration zones shall be considered as strategic projects within the meaning of Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2026/XXX [on speeding-up environmental assessments] and shall benefit from the toolbox set out in the Annex to that Regulation.
- For each designated acceleration zone, Member States shall prepare and issue an aggregated baseline permit authorising the deployment of data centres in that acceleration zone. This aggregated baseline permit shall cover the permits and administrative authorisations required for the data centre projects located within the acceleration zone, excluding installation-specific permits.
- Before issuing the aggregated baseline permit referred to in paragraph 2, Member States shall carry out all necessary procedures and assessments, including any relevant environmental assessments, planning procedures and evaluations applicable at the level of the acceleration zone.
- Data centres deployed in acceleration zones shall be required to obtain additional permits only for activities falling outside the aggregated baseline permit referred to in paragraph 2.
- Member States shall ensure that administrative applications related to the planning, construction and the operation of data centre deployed in acceleration zones are processed in an efficient, transparent and timely manner. The permit-granting procedure for data centre projects deployed in data centre acceleration zones shall not exceed 12 months, from the moment a comprehensive application has been submitted. The time limit shall be without prejudice to any shorter time limits set by Member States. Where such a status exists in national law, data centre projects shall be allocated the status of highest national significance possible and be treated as such in permit-granting processes. This paragraph shall apply only where such status exists in national law and shall not create an obligation for Member States to introduce such status.
