Data centres must secure renewable supply but need not generate their own power, minister says

Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho told parliament during the 2027 State Budget debate that data centres will not be required to generate their own electricity, though they must guarantee that renewable energy is available for their needs. Developers will have to post a deposit and fund the cost of their grid connection. On water, projects must use cooling that needs none or avoid conflict with public supply, and all will undergo environmental impact assessment. The decree-law is due by year-end, and industrial projects will get grid-connection priority over data centres.