By launching a new program to assess the sustainability of data centers around the European Union, the European Commission has made a major step toward a more sustainable digital future. The Commission will begin the process for its approval after a four-week public comment period. The newly published delegated regulation includes a call for public feedback before January 8, 2024, particularly from data center operators.
The new regulation is a key part of the updated Energy Efficiency Directive that became effective on October 10, 2023, and it is the first stage in a comprehensive effort to assess and improve data center energy use.
An extensive assessment and optimization of data center energy use in the European Union is set to commence. The approach the European Commission is considering, which is to create a reporting framework, calls for data centers to provide particular information about their energy efficiency and sustainability measures. Through the compilation of these statistics, which will contain certain key performance indicators, into a database at the EU level and then disseminated publicly, a clear picture of the energy consumption and efficiency practices of the industry would be presented.
This new development is not only about compliance; it would be a calculated attempt to promote innovation in the data center industry. The goal of the new initiative is to encourage the use of more efficient designs and technology, which might ultimately result in lower energy and water use. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need of integrating renewable energy sources, enhancing grid efficiency, and exploring novel approaches such repurposing waste heat in neighboring facilities.
3.21% of All EU Power in 2030
The European Commission will next go forward with finishing the rule and starting the adoption process when the four-week feedback period concludes. This entails a two-month period of examination to be conducted by the European Parliament and the Council, with the option to extend for an additional two months upon request.
The ambitious objective of the European Union to reduce its energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030 relative to the expected figures for that year, which were set in 2020, is what drives this effort. The information and communication technology (ICT) sector, and data centers in particular, are major contributors to this project.
Data centers in the European Union used 76.8 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy in 2018. By 2030, it is projected that this amount would have increased by 28% to 98.5 TWh. By 2030, data centers are expected to use 3.21% of all power in the European Union, suggesting that this development will have a significant impact on the EU’s energy needs.
