EU Data Centres Slash Energy Use, Aiming for Net-Zero by 2050
Data centres in the European Union consume a significant amount of electricity, accounting for 1.4-1.6% of total EU electricity consumption, approximately 40-45 TWh annually. The EU Code of Conduct (CoC) for Data Centres aims to improve efficiency, with a key metric being Power Utilisation Effectiveness (PUE).
Several data centres have demonstrated impressive efficiency gains. T-Systems' Biere_1 and Biere_2 in Germany achieved a PUE of 1.375 through 87 best practices, including cold aisle containment and heat recovery. In Italy, DATA4 Milano reached a PUE of 1.40 using direct free cooling and cold air containment, despite the region's hot climate. Grenoble Alpes University's IMAG data centre in France went even further, attaining a PUE of 1.25 with direct free cooling and ground water for cold water production. These achievements highlight the potential for data centres to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
The EU CoC recognises and rewards data centres that make significant strides in energy efficiency. However, no information is available on companies awarded between 2020 and 2022. Regularly monitoring PUE helps operators identify inefficiencies and implement targeted energy-saving measures. The ultimate goal is to approach a PUE of 1.0, indicating a perfectly efficient data centre.
To meet the Net-Zero emissions Scenario by 2050, data centres must halve their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The EU CoC for Data Centres plays a crucial role in driving this change by promoting best practices and recognising achievements. As demonstrated by leading data centres, significant energy savings and improved efficiency are achievable.
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