EU proposes to make data center energy use more transparent
Brussels wants greener data centers as AI demand skyrockets.
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- The European Commission proposed a shared energy rating scheme for large EU data centers.
- AI demand could push EU data center electricity use to 114 TWh by 2030.
- The labels would track energy, water use, waste heat reuse, and clean energy generation.
- If approved, the first sustainability labels for individual data centers are expected in 2027.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The European Commission has proposed an energy rating scheme for AI data centers across the EU.
Data centers are becoming the world’s fastest-growing sector, consuming around 68 terawatt-hours (TWh) of the EU’s electricity.
Because demand for artificial intelligence (AI) is soaring, data center energy use is expected to nearly double to 114 TWh by 2030. According to the International Energy Agency, this is more than 3% of the EU’s overall electricity demand.
To make the energy and water consumption of data centers more transparent, sustainable, and efficient, the European Commission is proposing a common energy rating scheme.
“With the common rating scheme proposed today, the Commission will help ensure that there is transparent information about the actual use of resources by data centers,” the executive arm of the EU said in a press release, which was published on Monday.
The European Commission’s plan will cover only data centers with a capacity of more than 500 kW. The scheme also takes into account how facilities contribute to the wider energy system, such as the reuse of waste heat and additional clean energy generation.
According to the European Commission, reusing half of the waste heat produced by European data centers could provide an amount of heat equivalent to the demand of around 4 million households.
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The Commission’s plan comes as Brussels is preparing to triple data centers’ capacity over the next 5 to 7 years to support the growing demand for AI computing power and strengthen the EU’s digital sovereignty.
“To ensure that the digital transformation truly works for our society, we must address the growing energy demand of data centers. Understanding their energy and resource consumption is the essential first step towards integrating them sustainably into our energy system. Digital sovereignty must go hand in hand with energy responsibility,” Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, says in a statement.
The common energy rating scheme proposal is now subject to a 2-month scrutiny period by the European Parliament and the Council before entering into force. If approved, the first sustainability labels for individual data centers are expected to be displayed in 2027.
The European Commission says it plans to consult with data center operators, energy providers, grid operators, and public authorities on a broader agreement aimed at improving Europe’s energy system.
