This is according to a new poll of 1,000 people conducted by Savanta and commissioned by Beyond Fossil Fuels.

The results found that public perception is that data centres already account for a large share of national energy consumption, with more than four in ten saying they contribute a great deal.

Nearly nine in ten respondents agree that companies should be required to disclose their energy sources, total use, and environmental impact. Over eight in 10 respondents support requiring companies to disclose both which data centres they use and what services they use them for.

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Most respondents are worried that new data centres could affect local water supplies, surrounding ecosystems, and other industries, while only a small minority are unconcerned about their water demand.

Priority for renewables

The poll showed that public opinion strongly favours establishing specific social criteria for prioritising energy distribution, with more than four in five respondents agreeing that the government should play a decisive role in managing energy shortages.

The majority opinion also favours granting priority access to renewable energy for sectors such as transport and building heating that enable decarbonisation, with just over three in five respondents agreeing and only a small minority disagreeing.

Almost two thirds of respondent’s report being extremely or moderately concerned about climate change, while only a small minority are not concerned.

About the poll

Beyond Fossil Fuels, in cooperation with Friends of the Earth Ireland and various other organisations, commissioned polling on citizens’ views regarding the impact of data centres on energy, water, and the economy.

The polling was conducted by Savanta in Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom in September 2025.

The sample for this research consisted of nationally representative samples in five European countries: Ireland (1,001), the United Kingdom (1,001), Spain (1,022), Germany (1,002), and Switzerland (1,006). A total of 5,032 individuals participated in the survey, all aged 18 and over, 51% women and 49% men.