BRUSSELS — The European Commission plans to tighten data center energy performance standards as part of a new “energy efficiency package” due in early 2026.
According to the International Energy Agency, global power use by data centers is set to more than double in just five years. In Europe, the surge in energy-hungry artificial intelligence is pushing power grids to their limits and redrawing the data center map.
At the IEA’s Global Energy Efficiency Conference in Brussels on Thursday, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said almost €100 billion ($116 billion) had been saved from energy bills as a result of the rollout of renewables, but that figure could rise dramatically if there is less power wastage.
“Energy efficiency measures make it possible — without lowering standards or comfort, and at the same time saving money,” Jørgensen said while unveiling a 10-point energy efficiency plan.
