The European Commission has put forward rules that would require data center operators to report their energy and water consumption through a shared rating system. The proposal applies to facilities with capacity above 500 kW.

Brussels aims to triple the bloc's data center capacity within seven years to strengthen digital sovereignty and lessen reliance on US tech firms. It acknowledges that adding more data centers could pressure power grids, water supplies and carbon emissions.

Citing International Energy Agency figures, the Commission said EU data centers used 68 TWh of electricity in 2024. Driven largely by AI compute buildout, that number is projected to reach 114 TWh by 2030 - more than three percent of the bloc's total electricity use.

The Commission said data centers must be "highly energy- and water-efficient and sustainably integrated in the energy system" to limit their impact.

The rating scheme would not require disclosure of total power use or cap consumption. Operators would have to reveal how their water use relates to local water stress levels and whether they feed back into the local energy ecosystem, such as by repurposing waste heat.

The EU plans to set minimum performance standards for data centers, and the disclosure system - similar to appliance and car energy labels - could inform those. A two-month consultation for the European Parliament and Council is open, with labels expected to be published next year if the plan proceeds.

Source: Engadget