Taiwan updates rules requiring efficiency for large data centers

The Ministry of Economic Affairs Energy Administration has revised three sub-regulations to require large data centers to adopt energy-efficiency measures during planning and construction.

• Main action: The revision mandates that new or expanded data centers and colocation facilities with energy use ≥ 5MW must adopt Best Available Techniques (BAT) at the construction/expansion stage and submit an energy-use preliminary plan for authority review before construction; seven inspection items are specified including IT equipment selection, cooling systems, power systems, energy monitoring, and overall efficiency. PUE targets are set by operation type: hyperscale ≤ 1.3, colocation ≤ 1.4.
• Background and implementation details: The rule changes modify three sub-regulations (Energy Development and Use Assessment Criteria; Scope of Energy Users; Energy Use Description Format), reference EU data-center efficiency guidelines and practices from Japan, Singapore, and Germany, and followed multiple expert consultations and talks with major industry operators. Contact persons: Deputy Director-General/Spokesperson Wu Zhih-wei (cwwu@moeaea.gov.tw, 02-2775-7750 / 0922-339-410) and Section Chief Liao Fang-ling (flliao@moeaea.gov.tw, 02-2775-7712 / 0912-089-923).