The European Data Centre Association has co-signed a Declaration of Intent designed to advance the sustainable integration of data centres into the European Union’s energy system.
The agreement, announced in Brussels, sets out a framework for closer cooperation between data centre operators, energy stakeholders and local authorities, as Europe looks to scale up its AI, cloud and digital infrastructure capacity.
That coordination is likely to become increasingly important over the coming years. The EU is aiming to significantly increase its data centre capacity within the next five to seven years, while around €200 billion is being mobilised to support AI development across 19 AI factories intended to support startups, industry and research.
Of course, that growth will not come without challenges. Data centres are already facing increased scrutiny over their energy use, grid connections and ability to support wider sustainability goals. The hope is that this agreement can help avoid a fragmented approach across Member States, instead creating a shared set of principles and good practice for integrating digital infrastructure into local and national energy systems.
The declaration aligns with several EU initiatives, including the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in the Energy Sector, the Data Centre Energy Efficiency Package, the European Grids Package, and the Cloud and AI Development Act.
“The energy system can no longer be viewed as a single connection to a single data centre,” said Lex Coors, President of EUDCA.
“Europe is moving into a more complex, four-dimensional environment where capacity, flexibility, sustainability and digital resilience must be planned together. Data centres are becoming part of the wider energy system, and this Declaration of Intent is an important step towards building that cooperation in a responsible and future-proof way.”
Under the agreement, working clusters will be established around several key priorities, including planning, forecasting and connection agreements, flexibility, energy generation and storage.
The EUDCA said it will play a leading role within those working clusters, bringing together technical and policy experts to contribute to discussions and help drive implementation with partners.
Michael Winterson, Secretary General of EUDCA, added, “Europe’s AI, cloud and digital ambitions will require significant new infrastructure capacity over the coming years. Delivering that growth responsibly will depend on much closer coordination between the digital infrastructure and energy sectors.
“This Declaration of Intent shows our commitment to partner with energy providers, local authorities and wider EU institutions to deliver on advanced technologies, energy, and sustainability ambitions.”
While the declaration is voluntary, it does show how the relationship between the data centre and energy sectors is beginning to shift. Data centres are no longer simply large power users seeking grid connections, but increasingly part of the wider conversation around flexibility, resilience and future energy planning.
That distinction will matter as Europe seeks to balance its ambitions around AI and digital sovereignty with the realities of grid capacity, energy security and decarbonisation.
