EU Plans Data Centre Efficiency Rules as Capacity Set to Reach 28 GW by 2030

3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 3

A needs assessment for minimum energy-efficiency standards covering new and existing EU data centres is due by 2027, marking the bloc’s first step toward binding rules.
Data centre capacity is projected to more than double to 28 GW by 2030 from 12 GW last year, pushing their share of EU electricity use above the current 2.5%.
The Commission said surging demand from cloud computing and AI could strain grids, raise power costs and slow Europe’s clean-energy transition if fossil-fuel plants stay online longer.
A separate EU sustainability label for large data centres—covering water use and clean energy supply—has been delayed as officials debate issues including how to treat nuclear-powered facilities.
The measures sit within a broader EU tech package aimed at expanding domestic cloud and AI capacity while reducing reliance on major foreign tech providers.

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Reuters12h ago

EU to Develop Minimum Energy Standards for Data Centres Amid Soaring Power Use Concerns

AOL12h ago

EU plans energy standards for data centres amid concerns over soaring power use - AOL

Techzine Europe9h ago

EU data center sustainability label delayed over nuclear controversy - Techzine Global

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The Energy Cost of AI: EU Data Centers, Sustainability Mandates, and the Battle for Digital Sovereignty

Overview

This report explores how the European Union is driving the development of energy-efficient data centers, recognizing their vital role in the digital economy and the growing demands of artificial intelligence. As data centers rapidly expand, concerns about their environmental impact and energy use have led the EU to create a regulatory framework, including the AI Act, which requires greater transparency and reporting from AI providers. The report highlights the challenges of balancing technological growth with sustainability, the need for stakeholder input, and the importance of clear standards to ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of the environment.

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