EU Issues Implementing Regulation on Data Centre Energy Reporting

Executive briefing: On March 4, 2024 the European Commission published Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/490 establishing a harmonised data collection framework for data centre energy, water, and reuse metrics under the Energy Efficiency Directive. Operators of facilities with installed IT power of 500 kW or more must submit annual reports to their national authorities starting May 15, 2024.

Key compliance signals

Scope. The regulation applies to data centres in the EU and EEA, covering hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise facilities.
Metrics. Operators must report energy consumption, Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), temperature and humidity targets, renewable energy usage, water consumption, and heat reuse.
Deadlines. First submissions are due by September 15, 2024, covering data from May 15 to August 31; annual reporting follows each year.

Control alignment

Data governance. Implement metering, monitoring, and data quality controls to capture required metrics across campuses.
Policy integration. Align sustainability reporting and ESG disclosures with the regulation’s data points.
Vendor oversight. Ensure colocation agreements include obligations to supply regulated metrics on time.

Action checklist

Map affected facilities and assign accountable owners for data collection.
Upgrade telemetry systems to capture water and heat reuse metrics alongside energy data.
Engage national authorities to confirm submission formats and portal access.

Sources

Zeph Tech prepares EU data centre operators for 2024 energy reporting obligations by integrating telemetry, governance, and audit controls.