EU Data Centre Energy Efficiency Package Adopted

The European Commission has today adopted its Data Centre Energy Efficiency Package alongside the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in the Energy Sector and the Cloud and AI Development Act. Key measures include:

•        A formal EU-wide data centre rating and labelling scheme, making energy performance comparable across operators and informing procurement decisions

•        A framework for minimum performance standards, with the second EED delegated regulation expected by 10 June 2026

•        An assessment of reporting data under the existing Energy Efficiency Directive, which revealed that a substantial proportion of in-scope operators across Europe were unable to provide complete energy and sustainability disclosures

The compliance gap is itself a hiring driver. Operators who failed to meet reporting thresholds will need to invest in data infrastructure, environmental management systems, and specialist personnel. Compliance-related job creation will be a feature of the sector through the remainder of 2026