European Union (EU only)

ABR Topic 04 • Back to interactive ABR viewer

European Union (EU only)
A) EED (Energy Efficiency Directive) data center reporting + the EU database

The EU’s biggest “data center–direct” rule right now is mandatory reporting for larger data centers under the revised EED framework, operationalized through a delegated regulation.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364 sets out the information + KPIs to be reported to the European database by operators of data centers with installed IT power demand ≥ 500 kW.
EUR-Lex

Member states are implementing/transposing the directive and aligning national processes; Ireland’s government page summarizes the EED reporting obligation and points to the delegated regulation and EU database reporting.
gov.ie

Example of a member-state regulator explanation (Sweden’s energy agency) describing reporting to the EU database and sustainability assessment purpose.
Swedish Energy Agency

What it means for cooling/water/power

You should expect required metrics and disclosures that expose:

energy performance (efficiency),

and (importantly for your question) water-related indicators as part of the sustainability KPI set (because cooling choices change those KPIs).
EUR-Lex

Governing bodies

European Commission (database + delegated rules)
EUR-Lex

Member-state competent authorities (collection/enforcement)

B) CSRD (corporate sustainability reporting) + ESRS E3 (Water)

CSRD is company-level, but it becomes “operationally real” for data centers because it forces formal, assured disclosures across the value chain.

CSRD is implemented via ESRS; ESRS E3 is the standard for Water and Marine Resources, including water consumption disclosures when material.
EFRAG

Cooling implication: if water is material (often true in stressed basins or where evaporative cooling is used), your cooling design/ops will directly drive reportable outcomes.

C) CNDCP / “Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact” (voluntary, but influential)

Not law, but widely used as a “market baseline” in Europe:

Pact goal: EU data centers climate neutral by 2030
Climate Neutral Data Centre

Clean energy matching targets (75% by Dec 31, 2025; 100% by Dec 31, 2030) are stated on the Pact site and in an EU Parliament document about the pact.
Climate Neutral Data Centre

The Pact also publishes water work (e.g., WUE target discussion papers).
Climate Neutral Data Centre

How it hits cooling/water: even if voluntary, it drives customer and city expectations around PUE/WUE, water-stress siting, and heat reuse feasibility.