Spain Mandated Transparency in Data Center Energy and Water Use

The Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) had unveiled a draft royal decree requiring data centers to publicly disclose their energy and water consumption, alongside other sustainability metrics. Targeting facilities with a connected power of 500 kW or more, the regulation had mandated annual reporting on electricity and potable water usage, renewable energy share, refrigerant types, resource efficiency, and waste heat reuse where feasible. For larger facilities with an energy input above 1 MW, the decree had gone further by requiring a waste heat utilization plan approved by regional authorities prior to construction. Mega-scale sites exceeding 100 MW had been asked to demonstrate adherence to industry best practices and position themselves within the top 15 percent globally for energy, water efficiency, and sustainability performance. Beyond environmental considerations, the regulation had incorporated socio-economic reporting obligations. Developers were required to disclose data on employment generation, workforce qualifications, contributions to regional cohesion, and impacts on both local and national economies. MITECO had framed the move as essential for guiding the sector’s rapid growth towards projects that deliver maximum benefits while limiting negative externalities. Aligned with the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the decree had mirrored similar measures adopted in other member states such as Germany. Once enacted, operators would have been obligated to publish these indicators annually on the MITECO website, marking a significant step in driving transparency and accountability in one of Spain’s fastest-growing technology sectors.