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EU Tackles Data Center Energy Demand with New Rules
3 Jun
Summary
- EU will develop minimum energy-efficiency standards for data centers.
- Data center capacity expected to double to 28 GW by 2030.
- New rules aim to curb power use and support green transition.
The European Union is developing minimum energy-efficiency standards for data centers to address their rapidly increasing power demands. This initiative comes as data center capacity in the EU is expected to more than double, reaching 28 gigawatts by 2030, up from 12 GW last year. The expansion will further elevate their contribution to the EU's overall electricity consumption beyond the current 2.5%.
The European Commission plans to establish performance standards for both new and existing data centers, with an initial assessment due by 2027. These measures are crucial as data centers, essential for digital services and the growth of AI, could hinder Europe's clean energy objectives if their energy needs necessitate the continued operation of fossil fuel plants or the construction of new ones.
Beyond efficiency, the EU is also exploring a sustainability label for data centers, which would cover aspects like water usage and renewable energy sourcing. While a proposal was anticipated, its release has been delayed due to ongoing discussions on specific assessment criteria. These efforts are part of a wider EU strategy to bolster domestic cloud and AI capabilities and reduce reliance on major technology firms.
