Primary Law
5 instrumentsWorld-first comprehensive AI regulation. Phased: prohibited AI immediate; GPAI transparency + energy documentation obligations live Aug 2025; high-risk systems Aug 2026. GPAI providers must document energy consumption (Annex XI). Commission developing AI energy/emissions measurement framework. Fines up to 7% global turnover.
Core EU framework for data center energy transparency. All DCs ≥500 kW IT load must report: PUE, WUE, renewable share, waste heat reuse, floor area, installed power. DCs ≥1 MW must follow EU Code of Conduct for DC Energy Efficiency. First reports (2023 data) submitted Sep 2024; annual May cycle from 2025.
Implements EED Article 12. Creates EU-wide DC database and common rating scheme with 4 mandatory sustainability KPIs: PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness), WUE (Water Usage Effectiveness), ERF (Energy Reuse Factor), REF (Renewable Energy Factor). Aggregated averages published by country and size category. Foundation for future binding performance standards.
Part of AI Continent Action Plan. Aims to triple EU data center capacity in 5–7 years. Streamlines DC permitting for sites meeting sustainability criteria. Complements Data Act and AI Act. Central tension: massive capacity expansion vs environmental constraints (water, energy, land). OVERDUE: formal proposal was expected by Q2 2026 but has not been published as of May 2026 — likely delayed by political pushback on environmental trade-offs.
Implementing measure for AI Act GPAI obligations. Defines: systemic risk assessment methodology, energy consumption documentation requirements, model transparency standards. OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Meta, Mistral, Aleph Alpha participating. 4th draft circulated Apr 2026 — near-final but energy documentation scope remains contested: industry pushes for training-only disclosure, civil society demands full lifecycle (training + inference + embodied). Adoption slightly behind original Q2 2026 target.