Portugal Drafts Rules Requiring Data Centers to Run on Renewable Energy and Waterless Cooling

Portugal is moving to impose some of Europe's stricter environmental standards on the fast-growing data center sector, with the government finalizing legislation that would require facilities to be powered entirely by renewable energy and to adopt cooling systems that do not consume fresh water. Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho outlined the plan during a parliamentary hearing, saying data centers would face "stringent requirements on water use" and a "very rigorous" environmental rev