Data centers: a common rating system and sustainability labels proposed by the Commission

The European Commission is proposing a common rating system for data centers, aimed at increasing transparency regarding their energy and water consumption and supporting their sustainable integration into the European energy system, the institution announced on 21 September 2026.

The scheme will cover data centers with a capacity of over 500 kW, rated from A to G according to their energy and water efficiency. The label will also take into account their contribution to the energy network through waste-heat reuse, the addition of clean energy generation capacity, or flexibility measures.

Adopted by delegated regulation, this system is now subject to a two-month scrutiny period by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU before it comes into force. The co-legislators may object to it but cannot amend the text.

The first individual labels are expected in 2027.

The Commission also aims to establish minimum performance standards for new or refurbished data centers, covering energy efficiency, water consumption, the reuse of waste heat, services provided to the electricity grid and other selected sustainability criteria.

With a view to a legislative proposal scheduled for the second quarter of 2027, the Commission launched, on 21 September 2026, a call for contributions and a public consultation, open until 14 December 2026, to gather comments from interested parties.

“Efficient, flexible, powered by additional clean energy and capable of reusing waste heat: this is how data centers can become an asset for the EU’s energy transition,” says Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition.