Finding the right site is the first — and one of the most decisive — steps of a data center project. Three criteria make the difference between a promising plot and a dead end.
1. Land
A data center needs space: from a few to several dozen hectares depending on target power. Beyond surface area, what matters is:
- real availability and land control;
- buildability and compatibility with planning documents;
- the nature of the site: brownfields and business zones in reconversion are ideal, as they limit new land artificialisation.
2. Energy
Often the limiting factor. A good site is above all a sized, accessible power connection:
- proximity to a high-voltage substation;
- available capacity on the grid;
- nearby low-carbon energy potential (renewables).
3. Connectivity (fibre)
A data center must be connected to the world. The presence of fibre networks and nearby interconnection points conditions the site’s performance and appeal.
The invisible fourth criterion: acceptability
A technically perfect site that is locally rejected will not succeed. Territorial acceptability — dialogue with officials and residents, local benefits, landscape integration — is an integral part of the analysis.
Key takeaway
The right site combines available land, connectable energy and fibre — all within a territory ready to host the project. That is the equation we help solve.
Read more: our real estate & land and siting expertise.