BusinessNov 9, 2026, 3:39 AM UTC·1 min read

Data centre operators withhold energy and water use data

Germany's Energy Efficiency Act demands transparency from data centre operators, yet research shows many keep their electricity and water consumption secret.

Rows of server racks inside a large data centre with cooling infrastructure — Image: heise online

Many data centre operators in Germany are keeping their electricity and water consumption out of public view, even though the country's Energy Efficiency Act requires openness from them. That is the finding of new research into how the industry handles its reporting duties.

The law was meant to make the resource footprint of server farms visible. Data centres are central to cloud services, streaming and the rapid growth of AI, and their appetite for power and cooling water is a recurring point of debate. Without reliable figures, that debate rests on estimates rather than facts.

Why the gap matters

Transparency is the precondition for any serious assessment of data centres. Municipalities deciding on new sites, grid operators planning capacity and residents living near large facilities all depend on knowing how much energy and water a facility actually uses. If operators withhold the numbers, regulators and the public cannot judge whether efficiency targets are being met.

The research suggests the problem is not a lack of rules but their application: the obligation exists on paper, yet a significant share of operators still treat their consumption data as confidential.

What to watch

The findings put pressure on the authorities responsible for enforcing the law and on the operators themselves. Whether stricter oversight or clearer reporting requirements follow will determine if the Energy Efficiency Act delivers the openness it promises.

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Tags:data centersenergy efficiency actgermanyenergy consumptionwater usage