Microsoft and Google Withhold Key Energy Data from Dutch Regulators January 2, 2026 Technology giants Microsoft and Google are declining to publicly disclose the energy consumption of their data centers in the Netherlands, citing business confidentiality, despite European Union regulations designed to increase transparency. This move highlights the growing tension between regulatory efforts to manage the digital infrastructure's environmental footprint and corporate concerns over competitive secrecy. According to a report by Dutch newspaper NRC, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) received incomplete submissions or blank forms from the hyperscale operators. The European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which came into force in 2024, mandates that all data centers with an installed IT capacity of at least 500kW must report their annual power and water usage to national authorities. However, compliance in the Dutch market has been limited, with only 104 out of an estimated 160 facilities submitting data. Notably, 27 of those submissions left critical energy fields blank, with all but three of those incomplete forms coming from facilities owned by American companies. In statements, Google defended its position, stating it does not share specific data due to “business confidentiality, as stipulated in the European directive.” Microsoft asserted that its reporting “meets the requirements, carefully balancing transparency, security, and business confidentiality.” The RVO acknowledged that for the 2024 reporting cycle, companies were not compelled to submit information deemed commercially sensitive, but clarified that this exemption will not apply for data covering the year 2025. The issue arises amid significant expansion by both firms in the Netherlands. Last year, Microsoft acquired 50 hectares of land in Hollands Kroon for data center expansion, while Google officially launched a new facility in Winschoten and broke ground on another in Westpoort. The country hosts several other Google sites, including campuses in Eemshaven and Middenmeer. The reluctance to share data comes at a critical time for the Netherlands, which faces mounting concerns over grid congestion and land constraints that threaten its status as a major European data hub. In November, Dutch bank ING warned that such infrastructure challenges, coupled with public criticism over energy use, could hamper future data center growth. The current lack of comprehensive data from major players like Microsoft and Google complicates efforts to plan for sustainable energy infrastructure and manage the sector's overall environmental impact, setting a precedent for how EU sustainability rules will be enforced against powerful global tech firms. Source: datacenterdynamics
Microsoft, Google Decline to Disclose Dutch Data Center Energy Consumption, Citing Confidentiality
