The French government has launched a new call for projects under the France 2030 initiative to accelerate the development of more sustainable digital equipment and data centres. The programme, known as EcoIDEN, is designed to mitigate the growing environmental impact of the digital sector, which is experiencing rapid expansion through cloud computing, video-on-demand services, and artificial intelligence.
In 2022, the digital sector accounted for 4.4% of the total carbon footprint in France, representing 29.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in CO2 equivalent. This figure is under pressure as the proportion of emissions attributed to data centres continues to rise. Furthermore, the manufacturing of digital terminals remains a significant consumer of natural resources. Projections from ADEME indicate that to meet the increasing demand for digital devices, the extraction of metals and minerals will need to increase by 59% by 2050 compared to 2020 levels.
The EcoIDEN project, operated by ADEME on behalf of the state, focuses on two primary strategic areas. The first involves addressing the environmental challenges associated with data infrastructure by supporting innovative solutions, such as more efficient cooling systems and heat recovery technologies. The second objective is to promote a circular economy within the digital sector by encouraging the eco-design of equipment to ensure greater durability and by scaling up the repair, reuse, and refurbishment of digital devices.
Managed by the Directorate General for Enterprises, the General Commission for Sustainable Development, and the General Secretariat for Investment, the initiative seeks to strengthen the international position of European digital value chain actors. The programme aims to enhance the competitiveness of French companies and reduce national dependence on critical raw materials by fostering the emergence of more resilient and environmentally efficient digital infrastructures.
Applications for the first round of the project call are due by 29 October 2026, with a second deadline scheduled for 9 December 2027.
