New report for the EU Commission: Steps towards greater sustainability in EU data centres
Borderstep, together with EY und AIT, has published a recent report on behalf of the EU Commission. This identifies concrete approaches to increasing the energy efficiency and sustainability of data centres in Europe.
The report Assessment of next steps to promote the energy performance and sustainability of data centres in EU, including the establishment of an EU-wide rating scheme analyses the current status, identifies areas for action and proposes an EU-wide rating scheme and minimum standards to make progress measurable.
The report covers several key areas of action:
- EU-wide rating scheme. Proposal for a standardised label that evaluates ecological criteria such as energy and water consumption, share of renewable energies, waste heat utilisation and hardware circularity.
- Minimum standards (MPS). Definition of key figures such as PUE, WUE and REF, based on data from over 700 data centres, to promote efficiency and resource conservation.
- Strategy for a climate-neutral data centre sector in 2030. Analysis of the feasibility of net-zero approaches and recommendations for transition strategies.
Promotion of innovations. Recommendations for technical optimisations, such as more efficient cooling systems, energy-saving hardware and better use of waste heat, in order to sustainably improve environmental and energy performance. - Transparency and reporting obligations. Introduction of standardised key figures to measure energy consumption, resource use and environmental performance in order to make progress comprehensible and support regulatory measures.
For Borderstep, the report is a further building block in its many years of research into energy-efficient data centres and sustainable digital infrastructures, providing practical recommendations for both policymakers and data centre operators.
The report is available to download free of charge: Assessment of next steps to promote the energy performance and sustainability of data centres in EU
The report was produced as part of the project European Union Data Centre Energy Efficiency Assessment and Reporting Scheme (EUDCEAR). The question of the project is how data centres in the European Union can be made more energy efficient and sustainable.
The Generaldirektion Energie (GD ENER) of the EU Commission commissioned the study with the aim of improving the assessment of the energy efficiency of data centres. At the same time, additional measures are to be developed to support the establishment of an EU-wide evaluation system for the sustainability of data centres.
Objectives of the study:
- To map and assess the sustainability of data centres in the EU
- To analyse existing reporting standards on the environmental impact of data centres
- To develop measures to increase energy efficiency and promote renewable energy
- To investigate the feasibility of a “net zero” data centre sector
- To provide recommendations for EU policy action
The first report published as part of the project is also available to download free of charge. Assessment of the energy performance and sustainability of data centres in EU: First technical report.
Green Economy