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EU proposes sustainability labels for larger data centres
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Commission advances a rating scheme and begins consulting on minimum standards
The European Commission proposed a common sustainability rating scheme for individual data centres with capacity above 500 kW. Labels would disclose energy and water efficiency and account for clean-energy generation, waste-heat reuse and grid services; the scheme itself would not cap resource consumption. The legal proposal now faces a two-month European Parliament and Council scrutiny period, with the first labels expected in 2027. Separately, the Commission opened a 12-week consultation, closing December 14, on possible minimum performance standards ahead of a legislative proposal planned for the second quarter of 2027. The distinction matters: mandatory performance thresholds remain under development rather than enacted. This briefing covers 2026-09-20T06:38:38.194Z through 2026-09-21T18:38:38.194Z. The timestamp is Commission publication metadata, not the proposal’s adoption time.
European Commission: Making data centres energy efficient thanks to a new EU rating system · European Commission: Minimum performance standards for data centres in Europe—public consultation launched · Reuters: EU to require data centres to disclose energy and water efficiency