The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has opened a public consultation and information period until September 15 for the draft Royal Decree regulating energy efficiency and sustainability of data centers in Spain. The measure requires operators to report several key indicators related to energy consumption, water use, space occupied, cooling, and other environmental and socio-economic parameters.
Reporting obligations and European platform
This regulation falls under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364 and Directive (EU) 2023/1791, which establish a common assessment framework for all EU member states. Spain, like other EU countries, must send this data to the ReportENER platform managed by the European Commission.
Before beginning to report, companies must register in the European database, providing their tax details, address, and a generic corporate email to the Subdirectorate General for Efficiency and Access to Energy. Once registered, they will receive an identifier to register their data centers and start reporting the required indicators.
These data will include the LAU code of the municipality where each facility is located, available in Eurostat’s database, as well as precise figures on energy consumption, electricity source (specifying the percentage of renewables), and water use—including potable water.
Clean energy, cooling, and heat reuse
The draft Royal Decree also mandates declaring the type of refrigerants used, the efficiency in resource utilization, and the contribution of the facility to the resilience of the electrical system. One of the most significant innovations is the obligation, whenever technically and economically feasible, to reuse residual heat generated by servers for climate control or other uses.
This approach aligns with the goals of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2023-2030 and the AI Strategy 2024, which promote sustainable growth in the ICT sector by optimizing energy consumption and minimizing environmental impact.
Spain as a key node in the global data flow
Spain holds a strategic position as a gateway for data into Europe. According to industry data, over 70% of data traffic to the continent passes through Spain, thanks to its fiber optic network, submarine connections, clean and competitive energy, and robust electrical system.
This prominence has attracted investments from tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon, who are expanding their data centers within the country. With the new regulations, the government aims to ensure this growth is accompanied by transparency and environmental commitment.
Socio-economic indicators and transparency
The legal text also requires reporting on the socio-economic impact of each data center, such as job creation and contributions to local and national economies. Through this regulation, the European Commission seeks member states to publish relevant data on energy performance, water footprint, and demand flexibility, following a common model across the EU.
In 2018, the European Directive noted that data centers accounted for 2.7% of the EU’s electricity consumption, and if the trend continues, this could reach 3.21% by 2030. Consequently, measures to improve efficiency and sustainability are being strengthened to prevent uncontrolled increases in energy demand within the sector.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What data must data centers report?
They must report energy consumption, percentage of renewable energy, water use (including potable water), space occupied, refrigerant types, and other efficiency and sustainability indicators.
2. How will the data be reported?
Through the European platform ReportENER, after registering in the database managed by the European Commission and MITECO.
3. Why is this measure important for Spain?
Because the country is a strategic entry point for data into Europe, with over 70% of international traffic passing through its territory.
4. What impact will this have on the sector?
It will increase transparency, promote renewable energy use, and encourage practices like heat reuse, improving the sustainability of data centers.
source: miteco.gob.es