Jefferies Finds Large, Modern Data Centres Outperform Legacy Sites; 70% Use Guarantees
Jefferies report finds that large EU data centres achieve superior power usage effectiveness versus smaller legacy facilities, while 70% rely on renewable Guarantees of Origin and EU performance standards are expected within 18 months. Jefferies, founded in 1962 and merged with Leucadia in 2013, focuses on North American middle-market banking.
1. Data Centre Efficiency Divide
Jefferies analysed operational data from over 700 EU data centres and identified a stark performance gap: very large, integrated facilities deliver superior power usage effectiveness compared with smaller, fragmented legacy sites.
2. Lifecycle Factors and Retrofit Pathways
The report finds that new builds excel in water usage effectiveness initially but only reach peak power efficiency in years four to six, after which performance declines unless modern cooling systems and smarter power sourcing are retrofitted.
3. Renewable Guarantees and Regulatory Outlook
Approximately 70% of centres claiming 100% renewable power depend on Guarantees of Origin, prompting the European Commission to develop an EU-wide rating scheme and Minimum Performance Standards expected to roll out within 12–18 months.