On November 3, representatives from the data center industry, the energy sector, politics, and the legal profession gathered at the GDA Net[t]work Lunch at CMS in Berlin. Under the title “Data Centers in a Regulatory Tug-of-War,” they discussed grid capacities, permitting procedures, and the conditions necessary for faster data center expansion.
Technical Insights and Keynotes
Philipp Schönnenbeck (partner at CMS) and Matthias Plötzke (managing director and head of public affairs at GDA) welcomed the guests and opened the event. The focus was on how data center projects in Germany can be implemented more quickly despite growing demands on the energy supply and complex regulatory conditions.
Discussion and Outlook
The panel discussion, moderated by Philipp Schönnenbeck (CMS), examined the challenges surrounding grid connections, permitting procedures, and a reliable long-term energy supply. Dr. Severin Fischer (Senate Department for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises), Andreas Graf-Matzner (CloudHQ), Jannis Lange (E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions), and Sebastian Belz (CMS) shared their diverse perspectives.
It became clear that available grid capacity is increasingly becoming a critical bottleneck for new data center projects. In addition to the necessary expansion of the power grids, decentralized energy solutions such as gas engines and fuel cells were also discussed as potential interim solutions. Furthermore, the focus was on faster permitting processes, transparent grid connection conditions, and a reliable regulatory framework.
Exchange and Networking
Following the discussion, the guests took the opportunity to engage in personal conversations and network. The GDA would like to thank CMS for its hospitality, as well as all the speakers and guests for their diverse perspectives and open dialogue.
