EU Tells AI Firms to Back Renewables and Nuclear as Data Centers Drive Power Demand
Updated
Updated · POLITICO Europe · Jun 1
EU Tells AI Firms to Back Renewables and Nuclear as Data Centers Drive Power Demand
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO Europe · Jun 1
Dan Jørgensen said AI companies seeking to expand in Europe must align with the EU’s energy, climate and environmental goals rather than rely on fossil fuels.
Data centers powering large language models are driving the push: the commissioner said operators should support renewable and nuclear generation and reuse excess heat to warm homes and businesses.
Europe’s stance comes as the AI boom fuels heavy construction of new data centers, with the United States and China currently leading that buildout.
The message signals the EU wants to catch up in AI infrastructure without loosening its broader decarbonization and efficiency agenda.
Can Europe's green AI goals survive its high energy costs and fierce competition from the US and China?
With tech giants weakening transparency rules, can EU regulations truly hold the industry accountable for its environmental impact?
Powering Europe’s Digital Future: How AI and Data Centers Threaten—and Could Transform—EU Climate Targets
Overview
As of June 2026, the European Union is building a strong regulatory framework for AI and data centers, aiming to boost its technological strength, competitiveness, and tech sovereignty while meeting ambitious climate goals. The upcoming 'Tech Sovereignty' package will guide this direction. To achieve these aims, the EU plans major investments, including €200 billion for expanding data center capacity and €2 billion for research and innovation. These efforts are designed to ensure that digital growth supports both economic leadership and environmental responsibility, positioning the EU as a leader in sustainable and sovereign digital infrastructure.