Complaint Accuses EU of Hiding Data Centers’ Energy and Water Use
Lighthouse Reports has filed a complaint under the Aarhus Convention, with a compliance committee set to rule on its admissibility in November.
Lighthouse Reports Alleges Transparency Issues
This week, Lighthouse Reports, a Dutch non-profit newsroom, lodged a complaint accusing the European Commission of concealing data center energy and water usage figures. They cited the Aarhus Convention, a binding treaty ensuring public access to environmental information and participation in decision-making, which the EU joined in 2005.
The Complaint: A Wall of Silence
The complaint asserts that the Commission has erected a 'wall of silence' around data center performance, making it difficult for the public to gain access to critical data. This dispute arises from a 2024 law restricting the sharing of individual site data, primarily due to lobbying by tech companies protecting their business interests. As a result, the Commission can only provide aggregate totals.
Growing Concern Over Data Center Impact
According to the figures, Europe's data centers consumed 20.7 terawatt-hours of power in 2025, equivalent to Croatia's total usage, and 8 million cubic meters of water. Power consumption increased by 26%, and water use by 52% in 2024, based on incomplete data.
The EU aims to triple its data center capacity to compete with the US and China due to the AI infrastructure boom driving global demand. However, local resistance to these sites is increasing across Europe amid rising energy costs.
The Proposed Rating Label: Insufficient Transparency
Last week, the Commission introduced a rating label grading data centers from A to G on energy efficiency, water use, and clean power sources. Despite this initiative, Lighthouse Reports argue that the label still falls short by hiding total consumption figures crucial for assessing carbon footprints.
MEP's Perspective on Transparency
Conservative MEP Diego Solier, involved in the EU's plan to expand digital capacity, emphasized transparency as the starting point. However, he also acknowledged that firms should not be compelled to disclose highly sensitive business data.
The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee will determine in November whether the complaint is valid, potentially leading to a finding that the EU breached the treaty.