The European Commission has proposed new regulations requiring data center operators with a rated capacity exceeding 500 kW to disclose their energy and water consumption. This initiative aims to establish a unified rating system to monitor resource efficiency as the EU plans to triple its regional data center capacity over the next seven years.
According to International Energy Agency data cited by the Commission, EU data centers consumed approximately 68 TWh of electricity in 2024. This figure is projected to reach 114 TWh by 2030, accounting for over 3% of the total electricity consumption in the region, driven largely by the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Under the current proposal, operators will not be required to disclose total electricity usage or face direct consumption caps. Instead, they must report on water usage in relation to local water stress and disclose whether they can return energy to local systems, such as by repurposing waste heat generated during operations.
The Commission intends to develop minimum performance standards for data centers across the EU, utilizing the new disclosure system as a reference similar to energy labeling for appliances and vehicles. The proposal is currently in a two-month consultation period, with potential implementation of the sustainability rating labels starting in 2027.
