HV SUBSTATION TYPES IN FRANCE
63 kV (HTB): regional distribution — smallest industrial connections, 10–50 MW typical
90 kV (HTB): regional high-voltage — medium industrial, 20–100 MW
225 kV (THT): transmission level — large industrial and data centers, 50–500 MW
400 kV (THT): national backbone — largest connections, hyperscale data centers
Data center requirement: typically 63kV minimum for 10MW+, 225kV for 100MW+
BROWNFIELD SUBSTATION ADVANTAGE
A former industrial site that consumed 50-200 MW had a dedicated HV connection with a transformer substation installed on-site. When the facility closed, this infrastructure remained. GridReadiness identifies these sites by crossing BASIAS industrial inventory with RTE network maps to find locations within 5km of 63kV+ infrastructure.
RTE SUBSTATION CAPACITY ABSORPTION
As AI data center demand accelerates, RTE substation capacity is being absorbed faster than it can be reinforced. The Presidential Determination (White House, April 2026) and Choose France commitments (SoftBank 3.1 GW, Ardian 500 MW) represent significant substation capacity commitments. Remaining available capacity is concentrated in former industrial regions — Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Normandie, Vallée du Rhône.
RELATED PAGES
Brownfield AI Sites France · RTE Connection Timeline · France Power Availability
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Request Grid Assessment →GridReadiness · frederic_arn@yahoo.fr · June 2026