EU Introduces New Rules for Data Centres Amid Rising Energy and Water Consumption

The European Commission has proposed a common rating scheme for data centres in the EU aimed at increasing transparency around their energy and water use and supporting their sustainable integration into the European energy system. The scheme will cover individual data centres with a capacity of more than 500 kW, while the first sustainability ratings are expected in 2027.

Data centres are important for the development of digital technologies and strengthening the EU’s technological independence, which is why the EU plans to triple their capacity over the next five to seven years. At the same time, their growth is increasing electricity consumption, putting additional pressure on power grids and increasing the use of natural resources such as water, while potentially contributing to higher carbon emissions.

The proposed scheme should provide more transparent data on actual energy and water consumption, as well as on how data centres contribute to the electricity system. This includes the reuse of waste heat, the development of new clean energy generation capacity and the ability to adjust consumption in response to grid conditions. According to the Commission, reusing around half of the waste heat generated by European data centres would be equivalent to the total heating needs of four million households in Europe.

The Commission has also launched a public consultation on minimum energy efficiency standards for data centres operating in Europe. The consultation will run until 14 December 2026, while the first review of the rating scheme is scheduled for the end of 2028. At the same time, the Commission is working with data centre operators, grid operators, energy companies and public institutions to prepare a tripartite agreement on the sustainability of data centres.

Data show that data centres in the EU consumed around 68 TWh of electricity in 2024. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, their electricity consumption could almost double to 114 TWh by 2030. This would account for more than three per cent of total electricity consumption in the EU, further highlighting the need for more efficient energy use and better integration of data centres into the electricity system.

Energy Portal