Sustainable heat for Waarderpolder directly from data centers

Thanks to a €52 million subsidy from the RVO, sustainable heat is becoming much more accessible in the Waarderpolder district of Haarlem. This boost will enable the innovative use of residual heat from data centers to heat 1,200 buildings. The project will help Haarlem to become natural gas-free by 2040. The SDE++ subsidy compensates for the costs, which promotes financial feasibility. Alderman Robert Berkhout is enthusiastic: “Affordable, sustainable heat is now a reality.”

Residual heat is an untapped treasure in the energy transition in the Netherlands. By integrating residual heat from data centers into heating networks, such as in the Waarderpolder, the ecological footprint of these IT giants can be significantly reduced, according to expectations. Data centers continuously generate heat through the cooling of IT infrastructure, and this heat is traditionally wasted into the atmosphere. By using this residual heat, initiatives such as those in the Waarderpolder are creating a new renewable energy source. In Diemen, such collaborations are already underway, with municipal initiatives utilizing residual heat from data centers such as Equinix to provide both sustainable and efficient heating. This demonstrates that residual heat is not only an environmentally responsible solution but also offers economic benefits. Innovative applications of residual heat are essential for the Netherlands' goal of becoming natural gas-free by 2040.

Data center cooling

Efficiency in data center cooling is crucial in minimizing operating and environmental costs. Innovative techniques such as liquid cooling optimize energy efficiency and reduce the ecological impact. Cold aisle techniques, in which fresh air is strategically directed to the front of servers, are standard methods that offer significant energy savings. In addition, liquid cooling techniques support higher equipment densities and ensure heat dissipation without high energy requirements.

More data centers needed to satisfy our hunger for AI

The ideas are there, but we really need to get moving, says Stijn Grove, Managing Director at the Dutch Data Center Association

Read More

The future of sustainable data centers revolves around energy efficiency and innovation. During a recent roundtable discussion, experts emphasized the need for measurable sustainability in equipment and energy management. Circular IT hardware, which focuses on recycling and uses fewer natural resources, is high on the agenda. The challenges for data centers lie in meeting increasing energy demand and making responsible and sustainable use of residual heat. Plans to decouple functional storage and compute sectors represent a return to structures that both optimize data handling and reduce environmental impact. Integrating green certificates and real-time energy-efficient solutions remains a crucial part of the energy agenda for data centers.

Sustainable heating

Diemen's pioneering role in reusing residual heat serves as a model for other municipalities in the Netherlands. Using 100% renewable energy, Diemen can almost entirely meet its sustainable heating needs from data centers. The collaboration with global digital infrastructure company Equinix can maximize the potential to make the entire municipality of Diemen natural gas-free, which aligns with the broader national strategy to minimize CO2 emissions.

The combined forces of technology and regulation are playing an increasing role in the transition to sustainable energy systems. Subsidies such as the SDE++ have a significant impact, making investing in energy efficiency and infrastructure profitable. Financial support not only makes projects viable but also gives a substantial boost to local and national carbon reduction targets. Various innovative cooling and heat transition technologies are coming together to realize a future of cleaner energy supply. Reviewing the energy needs of data centers, in conjunction with advanced heat networks, is an example of how modern technology can meet the requirements of a low-carbon future.