Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 11 hrs ago
Many German data centers do not publish required resource figures
More than half of the data center operators examined may not publish required figures on their energy and water use.
The facilities are in Germany, where data centers use nearly four percent of the country’s electricity and can also consume large amounts of water for cooling.
Germany’s Energy Efficiency Act requires operators of larger facilities to publish resource-use figures.
A review of about 30 major operators found the information was not available online for more than half, and some companies reportedly refused to provide it.
The national data center register lists only about one-quarter of the 100 largest facilities, and the government says it does not consider checks necessary.
The government is pursuing a change to the law that would exempt business secrets from the publication requirement.
If Parliament approves the change, the public may find it harder to track data centers’ environmental impact as the government seeks to double their capacity by 2030.
More than half of around 30 of Germany’s largest data center operators investigated by SWR may not be publishing required figures on electricity and water use.
The German Energy Efficiency Act requires operators of larger facilities to publish resource-use indicators.
Equinix, NTT and CloudHQ were among the companies whose figures could not be found online or that reportedly declined to provide information.
Experts say a lack of transparency makes it harder to assess the environmental impact of data centers.
A proposed law reform could exempt business secrets from the publication requirement.
- Who
- More than half of around 30 large data center operators examined by SWR may not be publishing required figures.
- What
- The figures concern electricity and water use. Some operators reportedly refused to provide information.
- When
- The SWR investigation was reported on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Some companies cite protection of business secrets or critical infrastructure. Experts say the figures are important for assessing environmental impacts.
Data center operators citing confidentiality
Transparency advocates
Publication of resource-use figures
Data center operators citing confidentiality
Some companies say the figures could reveal investment strategies or customer capacity.
Transparency advocates
Experts say the public has a right to environmental information and needs the figures to assess resource use.
Proposed reform of publication rules
Data center operators citing confidentiality
Industry groups have called for business secrets to be exempted from publication.
Transparency advocates
Critics fear an exemption would make it easier to conceal energy waste.
The federal economics ministry put a national data center register online.
Operators took part in an open-data-center event with tours and behind-the-scenes access.
Heise reported SWR’s findings on operators’ publication of resource-use figures.
- Operators examined
- Around 30 of Germany’s largest data center operators
- Publication gap
- More than half may not publish required figures
- Data center share of electricity use
- Nearly 4 percent of Germany’s total, according to Bitkom
- Federal register
- It lists just under one quarter of around 100 of the largest data centers
- Government target
- Double data center capacity by 2030