Today, Wednesday, the German federal government’s Growth Initiative is to be approved by the cabinet along with the 2025 federal budget. This includes ambitious plans for the expansion of AI data centres and improvement in the framework conditions for data centre operators. Béla Waldhauser, Spokesperson for the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, which was founded under the umbrella of eco, comments on this:
“We welcome the German federal government’s plans to adopt comprehensive measures to strengthen digital infrastructures and technologies in order to provide Germany with more computing power. In order for innovative technologies such as AI to find a home and be used extensively in the future, we need a strong digital ecosystem that makes this possible. I am optimistic that the German federal government recognises the need for computing capacity in Germany and is planning corresponding investments.”
However, a package of measures alone is not enough to advance the digital transformation on a large scale and consistently, according to Waldhauser. Although the focus on AI data centres in the initiative is understandable, the digitalisation of the economy, administration and society requires further support.
“The German federal government must now take action and further relieve the burden on operators of all digital infrastructures. In addition to the accelerated approval procedures mentioned in the Growth Initiative, the industry finally needs more and, above all, effective measures to cut red tape in order to speed up and simplify the expansion of additional data centre capacities. However, this process is currently being slowed down by an enormous density of requirements, documentation obligations and regulations at both national and EU level,” continues Waldhauser.
The Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) offers opportunities this context to make some adjustments: “In addition to accelerating planning, pragmatic support is also needed for implementing the new EnEfG efficiency requirements in order to achieve the goals set by the government. There is still an opportunity to reduce additional bureaucratic burdens arising from the EnEfG Amendment Act in the short term by making necessary improvements and aligning with the EU legal framework.” Therefore, the German federal government should, among other things, take into account the utilisation of data centres when calculating the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), harmonise inconsistent thresholds at EU and federal level and make the required Energy Reuse Factor (ERF) more feasible.
“With the Growth Initiative formulates, ambitious goals are being set to strengthen Germany as a hub for digital and AI technologies. However, the investment priorities for AI data centres announced in the package of measures are not adequately reflected in the actual budget. Therefore, actions must now follow to pave the way for a closely connected, nationwide, and efficient ecosystem of digital infrastructures,” says Béla Waldhauser.
