The EU’s pursuit of digital sovereignty and global leadership in AI demands vast data centre capacity, which will significantly increase European electricity consumption. However, this development also holds great potential – for the EU, and for the climate. Today, SYNERGI launches a proposal outlining how technology and policy can turn data centres into green assets. Member of the European Parliament, Niels Fuglsang, supports the initiative.

The European Commission aims to make Europe a leading continent in AI. Combined with the already massive consumption of cloud services, social media, increasing digitalisation, and more high-tech companies, this will create a huge demand for data capacity in the coming years. This development requires a significant expansion of data centres. It will also mean rising electricity use – by 2030, European data centers are expected to consume almost twice as much energy as they do today. To deliver on this demand, we must take a green and energy-efficient approach to data centres.

At the same time, the energy system faces a new challenge: When the sun shines and the wind blows, we produce plenty of green electricity. But not necessarily when we need it. This creates a new demand: Flexible consumption that can follow the availability of green energy. Data centres can deliver part of the flexibility that is essential to our green energy system.

SYNERGI is therefore launching a political proposal today with three concrete tracks for how data centres can be intelligently integrated into Europe's energy system: Reduce, Re-use, Respond. The proposal identifies existing technologies and the need for political action to reduce electricity use, reuse excess heat, and exploit flexibility in electricity consumption.

"Data centres are a vital part of technological progress – and they will grow far beyond what we see today. That’s why it makes a world of difference whether we build them smartly, circularly, and harness their green potential – or the opposite. Energy efficiency, reuse, and flexibility to the energy system are key – and that’s exactly what our proposal is built upon," says Morten Helveg Petersen, Chair of SYNERGI’s Board, and former Member of the European Parliament.

Niels Fuglsang, MEP for the Social Democrats in S&D Group and chief negotiator on the latest revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive, agrees:

"Europe's security and competitiveness are at risk because we depend on expensive, imported fossil fuels. Energy efficiency is the fastest and cheapest way to reduce our energy consumption, so it’s crucial that we promote efficient solutions. On top of that, Europeans are suffering from high heating bills. The coming years are expected to bring a boom in data centres, so we must ensure that legislation mandates energy-efficient data centres and puts excess heat to good use."

Sebastian Bøtcher, Sales Director of Secure Power in Schneider Electric Denmark, continues:

“The fact is that data centres contribute positively to our society. Today, more than 15,000 households receive district heating from data centres, and 20–25 percent of Denmark’s CO² reductions are generated by digital technologies facilitated by data centres. In 2028, data centres are expected to contribute DKK 11.4 billion to GDP and support 18,000 jobs. But the significant growth in AI-driven data centres also means it becomes easier to establish sustainable data centres, while at the same time creating a common standard for how they deliver value back. This could include requirements for district heating integration, contributions to grid stability, and documented use of green electricity.” 

In Hamina, Finland, excess heat from Google’s data center delivers 80 pct. of the local district heating energy with 97 pct. carbon-free energy. And in Denmark, Meta's data center has confirmed the great potential: The facility’s surplus heat is used to provide heating and reduce energy bills for more than 11,000 households via the local district heating network. These are strong examples of how data centers can positively contribute to green infrastructure - if planned correctly.

That’s why Denmark is an ideal location for future data centers, ensuring they are energy-efficient and designed with surplus heat reuse and energy flexibility in mind, says Morten Helveg Petersen:

"Everyone wins when we use energy wisely – for example, by reusing excess heat and harnessing flexibility. The Draghi report points directly to the need for Europe to be more competitive in the race for future technologies. Building data centres in Europe is part of that. Now we need the right framework to embrace the development and unlock the potential. It’s good for the climate, it makes economic sense, and it helps us reduce our dependency on imported energy, including from Russia."

The European Commission is expected to publish an energy efficiency package for data centres in early 2026 as part of its strategy for AI and digitalisation in the energy system.

A report from the European Commission published earlier this year shows that only 1.9% of the excess heat theoretically generated by all EU data centres is currently being utilised. At the same time, there is significant variation in data centre efficiency across member states. This highlights the enormous potential in raising ambitions and developing more modern data centres.

Read SYNERGI’s full proposal here. 

SYNERGI’s Recommendations for the EU and Member States

1. Reduce – Set energy efficiency requirements

• Energy efficiency requirements, standards, and rating schemes from the EU can collectively raise the bar for the industry and create a level playing field
• A 16% improvement in data centre energy efficiency by 2030 could save the EU nearly 20 TWh – equivalent to over €12.5 billion in offshore wind investments
• Simplify reporting requirements to focus on the parameters that drive more efficient energy operations

2. Re-use – Plan smart – and use the waste heat

• Existing waste heat from data centres in the EU is nearly double the total household heating demand in Scandinavia
• Data centre siting should be coordinated with heating infrastructure planning
• Create incentives through tax benefits and CO₂ credits, and remove financial and regulatory barriers to heat reuse

3. Respond – Make data centres flexibility resources

• Data centres have major potential to balance the energy system
• Launch pilot projects for demand response and flexibility services
• Strengthen collaboration between data centres and grid operators to leverage electricity consumption flexibility for the benefit of the entire energy system

About SYNERGI

SYNERGI is an interest organisation working to reduce energy waste in Denmark and across the EU – in industry, buildings, and the energy system.

Facts: Data Centres and Energy

• Data centres in the EU are expected to consume nearly 115 TWh annually by 2030 – nearly double today's level
• The EU can save up to 20 TWh of expected 2030 data centre energy use with a 16% efficiency gain
• The energy consumption of a single ChatGPT prompt equals about 40 mobile phone charges