Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electricity they use

Re:Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electri... by ba1afd89f34cb23 on Wednesday September 30, 2026 @09:39AM (#49908799)

You make a very good point. However, in this case, the deadline is two years in the past. From Article 12:

> 1. By 15 May 2024 and every year thereafter, Member States shall require owners and operators of data centres in their territory with a power demand of the installed information technology (IT) of at least 500kW, to make the information set out in Annex VII publicly available, except for information subject to Union and national law protecting trade and business secrets and confidentiality.

> 2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to data centres used for, or providing their services exclusively with the final aim of, defence and civil protection.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ%3AJOL...

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Re:Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electri... by flir on Wednesday September 30, 2026 @10:26AM (#49909479)

Cool, thanks for looking that up. This gets us closer to where the fault lies. Has the Netherlands implemented the directive yet?

Chatbot says "partially", and "Article 12, concerning data centres, has already been implemented. The relevant Dutch decree was published in May 2024 and entered into force on 7 May 2024." and a link to https://wetgevingskalender.overheid.nl/Regeling/WGK026248

But I neither read Dutch, nor trust the chatbot to do so, so all I can do is report the link.

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Re:Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electri... by jeroenhd on Wednesday September 30, 2026 @11:04AM (#49909964)

I'm no lawyer but based on the legal text in your link I'd say the law went into effect two years ago at least.

The Dutch newspaper participating in this article (https://www.trouw.nl/duurzaamheid-economie/nederland-weet-am...) states that a quarter of the statistics are public, but also that within Europe, that's one of the more transparent numbers.

It looks like nobody is really enforcing these laws anywhere.

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Re:Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electri... by anon48293 on Wednesday September 30, 2026 @11:10AM (#49910032)

Yes it says it has been implemented, both the Raad van State and the king signed it, it’s been in effect since then.

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Re:Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electri... by voxic11 on Wednesday September 30, 2026 @09:46AM (#49908901)

So maybe your proposed hefty fines actually need to be imposed on the states which haven't implemented the directive?

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Re:Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electri... by lccerina on Wednesday September 30, 2026 @10:22AM (#49909422)

European Union has procedures for infringement or non-conformity in the reception of directives, but in practice, the fines are relatively small compared to a country budget (or how much money a country gains from taxes by not applying the directive) [1]

[1] https://commission.europa.eu/law/application-eu-law/implemen...

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Re:Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electri... by pc86 on Wednesday September 30, 2026 @09:47AM (#49908915)

This doesn't seem like the type of comment it makes sense to create a throwaway for.

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Re:Most data centers refusing to say how much water, electri... by busssard on Wednesday September 30, 2026 @11:24AM (#49910213)

maybe they work for a datacenter

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