The flow of data: Data centers in the energy system
Data centers form the technical and physical backbone of our digital world, as they enable modern data processing. As an economically strong country in the heart of Europe, Germany is an important location for digital infrastructure. While installed computing power was around 3 GW in 2025, an increase of 78% is expected by 2030 [1]. As computing power increases, so does the power consumption of data centers.
Forecasts show that data centers could account for up to ten percent of Germany’s total electricity consumption in around ten years [2]. Their integration is therefore becoming a key factor for a sustainable energy system. Although new data centers often increase the load on the grids today, initial approaches are emerging as to how they themselves can contribute to stability and support the energy system.
Who is this topic relevant for?
For data center project developers and investors, as well as for local authorities, municipal utilities, network operators, and politicians and administrators who need to evaluate and decide on location, connection, and supply concepts at an early stage. The challenges addressed do not only affect data centers: large battery storage systems, electrolysers, the electrification of industry and logistics, and (increasingly) large heat pumps are also competing for scarce grid connection capacities.
What will you find in this white paper?
- Overview: Definition of a data center, classification of different types, relevant components of a data center, and locations in Germany.
- Market and system classification: Development of data center capacities in Germany, current and future electricity requirements, cluster formation, and implications for grids and locations. and system classificationCapacities in Germany, current and future electricity requirements, cluster formation, and implications for grids and locations.
- Grid connection as a bottleneck: Why connection requests are becoming a critical path today (competition with other technologies that also want to be connected to the grid, waiting times of several years) and which location factors play a role.
- Flexibility: Different types of flexibility provision by data centers
- Waste heat & regulation: Role of waste heat utilization and requirements of the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) and hurdles in practice.
Further information:
Literature:
[1] DENA, „Nachhaltige Rechenzentren Wie Deutschland die steigende Nachfrage nach Rechenleistung als strategische Chance nutzen kann“ https://www.dena.de/infocenter/nachhaltige-rechenzentren/, 2025.[2] Bundesnetzagentur, „Genehmigung des Szenariorahmens für den Netzentwicklungsplan Strom 2025-2037/2045“, 2025.
