The conversations around data centres’ environmental impact are getting more intense today. If you come across any AI-generated content online today, you’re sure to see a comment lamenting how much water that image or text costs.
While the actual figures are difficult to determine, the power requirements of data centres have indeed increased substantially in recent years. In North America, power consumption increased from 2,688 megawatts at the end of 2022 to 5,341 megawatts at the end of 2023, partly driven by the adoption of generative AI.
With this in mind, understanding the regulatory landscape has never been more important for operators seeking to maintain compliance and scale their operations.
Grid connections and clean energy
The biggest environmental compliance challenge facing UK data centres isn’t reporting requirements, but securing sustainable power infrastructure. Currently, some sites face grid connection waits until 2040, making it impossible to build compliant facilities in commercially-viable timelines.
The current system operates on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, creating massive queues. The National Energy System Operator is changing this to prioritise projects that are both ready to proceed and genuinely needed. The reform should halve current waiting times, though most data centres will still face delays of up to 8 years.
Clean energy access remains important for compliance. The UK has some of the highest industrial electricity prices among developed economies, making renewable energy partnerships essential rather than optional. Where you locate your data centre increasingly determines your ability to access affordable, clean power and meet environmental requirements.
Why industry knowledge sharing matters
Environmental compliance isn’t something you figure out alone. The regulations change faster than most operators can track independently, and the penalties for getting it wrong are significant.
The challenge isn’t just understanding what’s required today, but anticipating what’s coming next. When you’re managing multiple compliance frameworks while running operations, having access to peers who’ve already tackled similar challenges becomes invaluable. The Data Centre Congress Europe brings operators facing identical regulatory pressures together, to share practical solutions that work in real-world scenarios.
Preparing for security and resilience regulations
Data centres are now designated as Critical National Infrastructure, which means new security and resilience regulations are coming. The Labour government has committed to introducing these requirements for third-party and enterprise data centres, building on consultation work from the previous administration.
The regulations will create additional reporting requirements that operators will need to manage as well as environmental compliance. The challenge lies in building systems that can handle multiple regulatory frameworks simultaneously. Operators that wait for final regulations risk costly retrofitting of compliance systems, particularly when security requirements often demand infrastructure changes that affect energy efficiency and environmental performance.
Smart preparation means implementing robust data collection and monitoring systems now, before they become mandatory. The intersection of security, resilience, and environmental compliance creates complex reporting matrices that require sophisticated management approaches.
Preparing for the next phase of compliance
Environmental compliance is a core challenge for data centres in 2025. The issues touched on above are among the most pressing, but they’re far from a comprehensive list. As the landscape shifts, staying informed and connected is essential. Join us at the Data Centre Expo to learn from industry leaders and prepare your facility for the next wave of regulatory and infrastructure demands.
(Image source: “Parachute jumper against cloudy sky” by Horia Varlan is licensed under CC BY 2.0.)
