The European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) has initiated a study on the energy efficiency and sustainability of data centres in the EU Member States. The consortium proposes additional measures in connection with the establishment of a harmonised EU-wide system for assessing the sustainability of data centres.
The study is based on data collected as part of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) reported on data centres in the EU. Additional insights into the sustainability and development of data centres in the EU are gained from comprehensive surveys, expert and operator interviews and a thorough review of existing literature. The analysis also assesses the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework and examines possible ways to optimise it.
Aims of the study
- Assessment of the energy efficiency of data centres in the EU based on the reported data
- Evaluation of the user experience of the reporting facilities
- Identification of strategies to improve the sustainability of the data centre sector, including the proposal for a harmonised EU-wide rating system and minimum performance standards.
- Identify strategies for a feasible transition to a net-zero emissions data centre sector
- Report to the European Parliament and the Council on the introduction of a common EU rating system and its implications
Involvement of stakeholders
The consultation activities form the core of this study. As part of these activities, stakeholders in the data centre sector (data centre operators, data centre associations, local authorities) were involved in an extensive series of surveys, workshops and interviews.
