EU regulation and, in particular, the German Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) are fundamentally transforming the way data centers are designed and operated. Operators are now required not only to meet strict PUE targets, but also to increase the share of renewable energy and, especially, to ensure the systematic reuse of waste heat. New facilities must achieve PUE values as low as 1.2 and reuse up to 20% of their generated waste heat externally, while broader EU regulation demands transparent reporting of energy performance and sustainability metrics.
As a result, the role of data centers is shifting. They are no longer purely cooling-driven infrastructures but are becoming integrated elements of cross-sector energy systems. While PUE remains a key metric, it is increasingly being co ...