Data center expansion in Germany drives focus on water and energy efficiency

The expansion of data centers in Germany is driving increased scrutiny regarding energy efficiency and water consumption. As artificial intelligence and high-performance computing demand higher power densities, operators face stricter legal requirements and sustainability goals.

At a recent industry conference in Frankfurt, experts highlighted that technical building services (TGA) must integrate power supply, cooling, and monitoring to ensure economic and future-proof operations. While IT infrastructure remains the primary priority to avoid massive financial losses, the integration of cooling and heat recovery is becoming essential.

Water usage is emerging as a critical location factor. While the German government aims to double data center capacity by 2030, the associated water demand is significant. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated global water demand for data centers and power supply at over 500 billion liters in 2023. New reporting requirements and EU databases are working to improve transparency regarding Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) and the impact of cooling systems.