Amsterdam will be the first Dutch city to have a data centre, capable of warming local homes, the municipality announced on Thursday. The Dutch capital has the goal in its sights for its future data centre, which is currently being built in the port area.
New technologies do not have to hurt the environment
A data centre is a facility – a building or part of such – where thousands of computer systems are stored to guarantee smooth services for web users. Data centres generate tremendous amounts of electricity for their operation and cooling and also – generate excessive heat.
At the same time, Amsterdam is one of the major data hubs in Europe, together with London and Frankfurt. Maintaining this position becomes all the more important in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, when activities requiring stable and fast internet connection like remote working and video calls have become the norm.
The city of Amsterdam is well aware of the environmental implications of the presence of these facilities on its territory and has decided to welcome several data centres as long as they are committed to sustainability.
One project in this direction is the future data centre in the port area, which is being constructed by Caransa Groep. All partners working on this project have agreed that they want to put the residual heat to sustainable use for the benefit of the city. The result of this agreement is that for the first time in the Netherlands, a similar facility is being built in a way that heat that is released can easily be used by a third party.
In particular, the excessive heat will be mobilized to serve the district heating network of Westpoort Warmte which currently stores and distributes heating, generated by the Afval Energie Bedrijf waste energy company. The network provides hot water and a comfortable temperature in many homes in Noord and Nieuw-West boroughs.
According to the website of Caransa Group, they intend to develop a data centre of 100,000 square metres on their own land in the Western Docklands of Amsterdam. It will consist of three towers, each with a height of approximately 80 meters.
Source: TheMayor.EU
