- The site, located at a former coal‑fired plant, would host one of Europe’s largest computing hubs.
- Phase one of the development is expected online by 2027, supported by France’s accelerated grid‑connection strategy.
What happened: EDF and OpCore are planning to build a hyperscale data centre on a former French coal site
EDF, France’s state utility, is negotiating exclusively with OpCore — a joint venture between telecoms group Iliad and private equity firm InfraVia — to build a hyperscale data centre on the grounds of EDF’s former Montereau‑Vallée‑de‑la‑Seine coal plant. According to the companies, the project could cost around €4 billion and offer “several hundred megawatts” of capacity. The site’s existing grid connections and industrial land make it a particularly attractive proposition for high‑power computing, especially as global demand for AI and cloud services surges. The first phase of the data centre is slated to go live by 2027, backed by France’s fast‑track mechanism for grid connections. This plan furthers EDF’s recent push to redevelop brownfield sites into strategic digital infrastructure.
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Why it’s important
This proposal is a bold statement that France intends to reindustrialise its energy‑intensive sectors for the digital age. By converting an old coal power plant into a data centre, EDF is not only supporting France’s digital sovereignty but also leveraging its low-carbon electricity mix to power future computing demand. The project aligns with other national efforts: EDF recently solicited bids for high-power data centres on its own sites, offering low-carbon energy and ready access to grid infrastructure.
Moreover, the deal could become a model for sustainable, large‑scale data‑centre deployment in Europe, where repurposing former industrial sites reduces both cost and environmental impact. However, the stakes are high: delivering such a massive facility demands stringent regulatory compliance, careful planning for energy consumption, and clear routes to profitability. If successful, the project would not only satisfy surging AI workloads but also reinforce France’s role as a major digital and industrial powerhouse.
