💡EU Unveils Data Center Energy Efficiency Package

EU Rates Data Centers for Energy Efficiency

The European Commission has unveiled its Data Centre Energy Efficiency Package, which includes a common EU rating scheme and electronic labels for energy-guzzling data centers. The package aims to address the growing tension between increasing computing capacity for AI and the strain on electricity grids and water supplies. Data centers with a power demand above 500 kW will be covered by the rating scheme, and the labels will draw on sustainability data already reported under the EU's Energy Efficiency Directive. The first labels are expected to appear in 2027, and the Commission is consulting on minimum performance standards for new and existing data centers until December 14. The approach reflects a broader issue: governments want more data centers to feed AI, but the infrastructure boom comes with substantial utility bills.