EU Proposes Energy Consumption Rating for Data Centres
The scheme would make operators disclose energy and water use, with labels from A to G and first ratings expected in 2027, the Commission said.
- The European Commission proposed a rating scheme for Data-centre facilities to track Energy and Water Consumption, designed to make environmental performance transparent as Europe prepares for rapid digital infrastructure expansion.
- Seeking greater technological independence, the European Union aims to triple its Data-centre capacity over the next seven years, intensifying pressure on electricity grids and Water resources as the bloc pursues AI and cloud computing dominance.
- Covering facilities with capacity above 500 kilowatts, the scheme ranks efficiency on a colored scale, rewarding operators that contribute to the grid by reusing waste heat or adding clean Energy generation.
- The Commission is pairing the rating system with a public consultation on minimum performance standards, which closes on 14 December 2026 and could extend requirements beyond disclosure to influence investment decisions.
- European Commission vice president Teresa Ribera warned, "Tripling our data centre capacity cannot mean tripling the pressure on our grids, our water and our energy bills," emphasizing efficient operations as essential for the Energy transition.
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109 Articles
SCIENCE & TECH: The EU will force data centers to disclose how much water and energy they are using
Data centers will get a label, just like your fridge or dishwasher Energy and water consumption must be reported by 500kW+ sites The EC also wants to know how resources are being balanced in relation to local strains The European Commission has proposed a new rating scheme for data centers in a bid to have them report metrics like energy efficiency and water consumption more transparently. Upcoming changes fall under the new Data Center Energy E…
European Commission Proposes Energy & Water Efficiency Disclosure Rules For Data-Centers
European Commission Proposes Energy & Water Efficiency Disclosure Rules For Data-Centers Authored by Zachary Skidmore via Data Centre Dynamics, The European Commission (EC) has submitted a proposal to require data centers across Europe to disclose their energy and water efficiency metrics. The European Union (EU) aims to triple its data center capacity over the next five to seven years. This has raised concerns about the build-out's potential i…
EU proposes common energy rating scheme for data centres
The bloc is seeking to mitigate the impact of the energy consumption necessary to its goal of tripling data centre capacity over the next five to seven years. Read more: EU proposes common energy rating scheme for data centres
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