23 April 2026
The European Commission has proposed amendments to the draft regulation on an energy efficiency rating scheme for data centres with the objective of enhancing transparency on energy use, supporting renewable energy integration and improving grid efficiency, as well as promoting the reuse of waste heat.
Energy Efficiency for Europe supports the Commission’s objective and stresses the need to ensure that Europe’s growing digital infrastructure remains fully aligned with climate objectives and actively supports the energy transition. In the federation’s response, it calls for:
- Strengthening transparency on the environmental performance of data centres. As energy consumption from data centres continues to grow, greater visibility on energy performance and sustainability is essential to support informed decision-making and accelerate the deployment of highly energy efficient digital infrastructure.
- Recognising waste heat recovery and reuse as a key opportunity to mitigate the energy impact of digitalisation and AI. Data centres capable of capturing and supplying waste heat can contribute to greater circularity, system efficiency, and the decarbonisation of heating and cooling networks.
- Moving beyond a binary approach to waste heat reuse. The proposed “waste heat reuse ready: yes or no” label provides limited information and does little to incentivise ambitious recovery and reuse practices.
- Including the Energy Reuse Factor (ERF) in the rating scheme. A performance-based classification based on actual waste heat reuse would provide more meaningful transparency, support effective waste heat recovery and ensure the digital and energy transitions progress hand in hand.
In short, the Commission must ensure that the digital and energy transitions progress hand in hand, supported by a rating scheme that rewards real performance and meaningful waste heat recovery.