DCD
Summary
The German Bundestag is expected to pass an amended Energy Efficiency Act soon. Despite discussions, the German Data Center Association still has concerns that this will affect data center operations in the country.
In 2022, the first draft demanded all new data centers ensure that 30 percent of their waste heat be used by other organizations from 2024, and 40 percent from 2027. Since heat reuse has financial demands and requires an available district heating network, this was impossible to meet, the GDA argued. In November, Klaft warned: "Inflexible percentage values for the obligatory use of waste heat or a flat-rate PUE specification harbor the risk of bringing a data center prevention law."
By May 2023, a new draft reduced the heat reuse demands, starting at 10 percent heat reuse from 2026, and increasing to 20 percent in 2028. The GDA said these still needed changing, as demand for waste heat is variable, and data centers often cannot locate close to heating networks.
After negotiation with the data center representatives, the Act still includes a blanket obligation to reuse waste heat, with percentage quotas that have remained unchanged but can be circumvented by exemptions.
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