EU will create a label for data centres, with renewable and water use labels (energy.ec.europa.eu)

The European Commission announced it will create a mandatory label for data centres that discloses energy use, water consumption and the share of renewable power, as part of a broader data-centre energy efficiency package due in early 2026. The move responds to rapidly rising demand driven largely by AI-accelerated computing: globally data centres already consume ~415 TWh (~1.5% of electricity) and are projected to approach 945 TWh by 2030, while the IEA estimates EU consumption rising from ~70 TWh (2024) to ~115 TWh by 2030. The label, plus a strategic roadmap for digitalisation and AI in energy, aims to ensure data centres support — rather than strain — Europe’s energy transition and 2030 efficiency targets. Technically, the EU has strengthened monitoring and reporting obligations in revised energy-efficiency rules and is building a public European database that publishes energy performance and water-footprint data for high-energy data centres. The label and transparency measures will push operators toward best practices (reusing waste heat, boosting on-site or contracted renewables, water-efficient cooling) and make it easier for regulators, utilities and investors to assess grid impact, carbon intensity and resource risks (cooling water, critical materials, e‑waste). The update complements the voluntary EU Code of Conduct (revised March 2025) and signals tighter compliance, procurement and siting scrutiny for data-centre operators as AI demand grows.