cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/11497601
Archived link (removepayall.com)
The European Union’s regulatory arm has proposed rules that would force data center operators to disclose their energy and water use through a common rating system. The European Commission says this will cover data centers with a capacity above 500 kW.
The bloc wants to triple its data center capacity within the next seven years in a bid to bolster its digital sovereignty, which includes reducing its dependence on US tech companies. It acknowledges that increasing the number of data centers in the region could strain power grids and natural resources like water while increasing carbon emissions.
The Commission cited stats from the International Energy Agency indicating that data centers consumed 68 TWh of electricity in the EU in 2024. Due in large part to the race to build out compute power for artificial intelligence, that figure is expected to increase to 114 TWh by 2030, which would account for over three percent of the bloc’s total electricity use.
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The EU aims to enhance Europe’s cloud computing and AI capabilities, and “the better integration of the energy and digital systems in the Union”, according to a directive (opens pdf).
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The Commission has opened a two-month consultation period for the European Parliament and Council to scrutinize (and potentially object to) the rules before they come into force. If all goes to plan, data centers are expected to start publishing the sustainability labels next year.
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Might be good to have the numbers more visible to cut disinformation too. Although almost any commercial water usage figures can be presented in a way to scare people.
Perhaps require disclosure for all companies over a certain size?
I am not sure whether I understand your comment. The data centers must make the information public, and the directive covers all centers with a capacity above 500 kW.
So guess that’s what you demand if I get that right?
Not entirely certain, but it seems they are pointing out that plenty of other industrial processes use a large amount of water, and those industries should also be forced to disclose their usage rates, if that isn’t currently the case.
Great opportunity for the Brits: use the speed of sovereignty to invest in domestic energy and build out data centers, markup enough just so the EU can’t compete, and sell back to the EU.
Isn’t the UK allowing more offshore windfarms than almost anywhere else?
Plus if Russia tries to invade we can flip the switch to blow their planes away.
The world needs data centers like it needs humans building data centers… or humans for that matter.
