EU plots energy saving rules for power-hungry data centres: Report

The European Union (EU) is preparing new rules aimed at improving the energy efficiency of data centres, said the bloc's energy commissioner, as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) places increasing strain on electricity supplies.

According to a recent report by Reuters, speaking at a conference in Brussels on 12 June, EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen announced plans to introduce what he described as a "data centre energy efficiency package." He did not provide further details on the content or timeline of the proposal.

Data centres currently account for around 3% of electricity demand across the EU. That figure is expected to rise significantly over the coming decade, driven by the expansion of AI, states the report.