Data Center Energy Ratings

The European Commission proposed a common rating scheme requiring data centers with capacity above 500 kW to publicly report their energy and water use. The move is part of a broader push to increase transparency as the EU aims to triple its data center capacity over the next five to seven years.

The scheme will also track contributions such as waste heat reuse and clean energy generation, with reusing roughly half of all European data center waste heat equivalent to meeting the heating demand of 4 million households.

The Commission also launched a consultation on minimum energy performance standards, closing in December 2026, as data center electricity use is projected to nearly double from 68 TWh in 2024 to 114 TWh by 2030.