EU Proposes Energy Consumption Rating for Data Centres
The labels will grade sites on energy, water and low-emission power use, with first public 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.
52 Articles
52 Articles
(Brussels=Yonhap News) Correspondent Hyun Yun-kyung = The European Union (EU) announced on the 21st (local time) that it is pursuing a plan to classify the energy and water consumption of data centers within Europe...
El Periódico
To stay in the race for the mastery of artificial intelligence vis-à-vis its competitors, the European Union needs to invest in its computing capacity and, with it, in its data centres. With their energy and water consumption in focus, the European Commission has proposed this Monday a common framework to assess its sustainability. It is about creating a European label that classifies these facilities from A to G according to their consumption, …
Loophole in new EU labelling will let fossil-fuelled data-centres pass as ‘green’
The European Commission's new rating system grades data centres on efficiency, but does not show their emissions or how much power and water they use. It also lets sites partly powered by fossil fuels present themselves as renewable by buying green certificates over a whole year.
The EU said its scheme would provide the public with information on the water and energy use of sites with capacity above 500 kW. Like the rating already used for home apps, the rating will rank data centers on a color-coded scale.
Electricity consumption in data centers is predicted to double in Europe in the coming years. The Commission wants EU-wide energy efficiency requirements for data centers.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
