27 March 2026 at 07:41 pm IST
The European Commission has launched a call for feedback on a new EU-wide rating scheme for data centres, aimed at improving transparency and sustainability in one of the fastest-growing energy-consuming sectors. The initiative forms part of the broader Data Centre Energy Efficiency Package, expected to be adopted in 2026. The proposed rating scheme will assess data centres based on multiple sustainability indicators, including energy efficiency, water use, renewable energy consumption and waste heat reuse. The goal is to create a harmonised system that enables better comparison of environmental performance across facilities in the EU. The initiative builds on existing EU rules under the Energy Efficiency Directive, which already require large data centres to report key performance data. By introducing a rating mechanism, the Commission aims to strengthen accountability and incentivise operators to improve environmental performance. The consultation will gather input from stakeholders, including industry, policymakers and civil society, to refine the framework before formal adoption. The move reflects the EU’s broader effort to ensure that the rapid growth of digital infrastructure aligns with its climate goals, including the ambition to achieve carbon-neutral data centres by 2030.
