Data Centers' Dirty Secret: EU Takes Aim at Energy and Water Use The European Union's proposal to require data center operators to disclose their energy and water use is a long overdue move towards transparency in an industry notorious for its opaque practices.
The bloc's plans are driven by the need to mitigate the environmental impact of its growing digital ambitions, which will put significant strain on power grids and natural resources.
The International Energy Agency estimates that data centers already consume 68 TWh of electricity in the EU, a figure expected to balloon to 114 TWh by 2030 – accounting for over three percent of the bloc's total electricity use.