Austria mandates environmental impact assessments for data centers over 100 MW
A new amendment to Austria's environmental law now requires large data centers to undergo an impact assessment before construction, affecting projects like Google's facility in Kronsdorf.
The Austrian coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos approved a revision to the environmental impact assessment (UVP) law on Monday evening. Under the change, any data center with more than one hundred megawatts of installed capacity must complete a UVP prior to building. Google’s Kronsdorf site, currently at 150 MW in phase 1, will have to comply. The amendment aims to speed approvals for many projects while adding stricter duties for AI-related facilities, though it also introduces uncertainty for operators.
Why it matters
The rule ties Austria's expanding data-center sector to environmental oversight, affecting major tech projects and future AI infrastructure.
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