EU proposes new energy and water ratings for data centresThe European Commission has proposed an EU-wide rating system for data centres requirin...

EU proposes new energy and water ratings for data centres
The European Commission has proposed an EU-wide rating system for data centres requiring facilities above 500kW to disclose energy and water efficiency as the bloc prepares for a major expansion in computing capacity.

The scheme will require operators to report how efficiently their facilities use energy and water, alongside information on water stress in the local area. Operators will also have to disclose whether their sites can support the energy system through measures such as waste heat reuse and flexible electricity consumption.

Teresa Ribera, European Commission executive vice-president for clean, just and competitive transition, said: “Tripling our data centre capacity cannot mean tripling the pressure on our grids, our water and our energy bills.”

The Commission wants to triple European data centre capacity over the next five to seven years as it seeks to increase computing capacity and strengthen technological independence. It said the expansion, driven in part by artificial intelligence, could increase pressure on electricity grids and water resources while contributing to higher carbon emissions.

The rating scheme will not impose limits on data centres’ energy or water consumption, nor require operators to disclose their total power use. Instead, the Commission intends the ratings to increase transparency and encourage investment in facilities that use resources more efficiently.