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AI Observatory · France 2027 electionUpdated September 28, 2026

Theme · Data centers and energy

Data centers and the energy behind AI: what France's 2027 presidential candidates propose

Siting, electricity and nuclear power, water, taxation, sovereign hosting and moratoriums: the physical infrastructure of AI.

As of September 28, 2026, 57 proposals and statements on this theme are available in English, from 17 candidates and potential candidates.

Background

According to RTE, around 300 data centers are located in France in 2026. Their electricity consumption is estimated at around 10 TWh, or about 2% of annual electricity consumption. RTE forecasts between 15 and 20 TWh in 2030, then between 23 and 28 TWh in 2035. In May 2026, RTE had reserved nearly 18 GW of connection capacity for about 80 projects. The Choose France 2026 summit recorded 93 billion euros in investment pledges, mostly in digital technology. According to Arcep, cited by Next, data centers consumed 575,000 m³ of water in 2024.

On March 25, 2026, the Senate adopted a bill to regulate the siting of data centers, which was forwarded to the National Assembly. In July 2026, the Assembly's commission of inquiry into digital dependencies proposed a moratorium on projects that do not meet a sovereignty imperative.

Sources: RTE · Next · Banque des Territoires (Localtis) · Silicon.fr

Candidate by candidate

Gabriel AttalRenaissance3 items

All quotes from Gabriel Attal, with sources

Delphine BathoGénération écologie1 item

All quotes from Delphine Batho, with sources

Xavier BertrandLes Républicains1 item

All quotes from Xavier Bertrand, with sources

Nicolas Dupont-AignanDebout la France6 items

All quotes from Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, with sources

David LisnardNouvelle Énergie1 item

All quotes from David Lisnard, with sources

Antoine MikolajczakÉquinoxe1 item

All quotes from Antoine Mikolajczak, with sources

Jean-Luc MélenchonLa France insoumise9 items

All quotes from Jean-Luc Mélenchon, with sources

Édouard PhilippeHorizons1 item

All quotes from Édouard Philippe, with sources

Florian PhilippotLes Patriotes1 item

All quotes from Florian Philippot, with sources

Bruno RetailleauLes Républicains10 items

All quotes from Bruno Retailleau, with sources

François RuffinDebout !3 items

All quotes from François Ruffin, with sources

Marine TondelierLes Écologistes8 items

All quotes from Marine Tondelier, with sources

Dominique de VillepinLa France humaniste4 items

All quotes from Dominique de Villepin, with sources

Potential candidates

Bernard CazeneuveLa Convention1 item

All quotes from Bernard Cazeneuve, with sources

Sarah KnafoReconquête3 items

All quotes from Sarah Knafo, with sources

Bruno Le Maire2 items

All quotes from Bruno Le Maire, with sources

Emmanuel MaurelGauche républicaine et socialiste2 items

All quotes from Emmanuel Maurel, with sources