27 October 2025
Europeans agree: Time to Put Limits on Big Tech Data Centres
A staggering majority of respondents in a polling commissioned by Beyond Fossil Fuels and conducted by Savanta in five European countries do not want new data centres (DCs) to jeopardise Europe’s clean energy transition, drain water resources and raise costs for consumers. Respondents also expressed concern about data centres rising energy consumption.[1]The results show broad opposition to fuelling data centres with fossil energy, and strong support for powering new ones with renewables:
- Majorities across all markets and demographics support mandating new data centres be built only if new renewable energy sources are created in order to power them (72%);
- Two-thirds (64%) think data centres should not be built if they are powered with fossil fuels;
- 76% think that new data centre facilities should be built only if powered by renewable energy;
- 73% think governments should put clear criteria in place to ensure energy distribution (in other words how priority access to electricity for different sectors and uses is determined)
Algorithm Watch/CH (Switzerland, German version)
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