en.Wedoany.com Reported - Following a call for expressions of interest for the former Bouchain thermal power plant site in France, EDF announced on May 30, 2026, that it has selected SoftBank Group as the Preferred Bidder No. 1. Under a build-to-lease model, SoftBank will design, build, and operate a 400 MW large-scale data center on the site.

The selection process comprehensively evaluated the technical, legal, and financial robustness of the project, as well as its alignment with site characteristics and relevant environmental requirements. Additionally, EDF placed great emphasis on the project's ability to integrate sustainably with the surrounding environment.

The development plan for the Bouchain site highlights France's strong advantages in hosting next-generation digital infrastructure. Leveraging competitive, sovereign, and low-carbon electricity supply, along with industrial land resources with favorable grid connection conditions, France provides significant support for the sustained growth of the digital economy.

The project has now entered the due diligence phase. During this period, the project sponsor will conduct preliminary technical, environmental, and administrative studies required to advance the project. The two parties will sign a preliminary build-to-lease agreement at this stage, with the final lease agreement to be signed after obtaining the necessary authorizations.

This project is a key component of EDF's overall strategy to revitalize certain eligible former industrial sites, enabling them to quickly accommodate large, power-intensive projects. These sites offer significant advantages in terms of access to the transmission grid, helping to substantially shorten project construction timelines.

The successful implementation of the Bouchain site project fully demonstrates France's ability to host large-scale digital infrastructure, supported by competitive, sovereign, and low-carbon electricity. This reflects EDF's firm commitment: we are dedicated to selecting projects that combine industrial excellence, high environmental standards, and long-term value creation for local communities, while giving new purpose to former industrial sites.

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