Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Business
data centers
digital economy
Digital Infrastructure Netherlands
DINL
energy security
Google
green energy
hosting companies
internet service provider
Michiel Stetlman
Microsoft
Nuclear Energy
power consumption
reliable power supply
Wednesday, 10 February 2016 - 10:52
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Internet firms, data centers fear poor Dutch energy security

Dutch data centers, hosting companies and other internet service providers are demanding more energy security, concerned about the reliability of power supply in the Netherlands with the switch over to green energy. Michiel Steltman, director of Digital Infrastructure Netherlands, thinks that the potential of nuclear power should be considered in the decision making to ensure long-term stability, the Financieele Dagblad reports. "All the focus on greening and local generation is fine, but it is extremely unwise to exclude the option for central generation, for example by means of nuclear power." Steltman said to FD. "Digital economy means not less, but more energy consumption. So we will need all forms of generation." The Netherlands is an increasingly important digital hub with many foreign internet companies settling in the country, according to the newspaper. Microsoft and Google, among others, use Dutch Data centers to serve their users in the rest of Europe and the world. And with that the demand for power increases. In the Amsterdam region alone the establishment of data center led to an increase of nearly 16 percent in recent years. Grid manager Liander predicts that the growth will double in the next five years. The internet industry is working on being more efficient and reducing its power consumption. The use of green energy in the industry is also on the rise, for example Google will be using offshore wind energy to power its new premises in Eemshaven. But Steltman worries that this will not be enough. "Power must be available at all times in the digital economy, especially when we will soon connect all kinds of devices to the internet and get self-driving cars." he said to the newspaper. "My concern is that the reliability is jeopardized if we do not keep all options open."

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Dutch court upholds Schengen ban for British conspiracy theorist David Icke
  • €380,000 from Oranje World Cup auction hasn't reached migrant workers in Qatar
  • TU Delft ranks in top 50 on 2024 Times Higher Education list; Six Dutch unis in top 100
  • Netherlands home to nine wolf packs: 39 pups born this spring
  • Center-left coalition set to take control of The Hague City Council
  • Radboud University rector Han van Krieken resigns amid sexual harassment revelation

Top stories

  • TU Delft ranks in top 50 on 2024 Times Higher Education list; Six Dutch unis in top 100
  • Social housing rents could increase 5.8% next year; 4.9% increase in free sector
  • VVD under fire for pulling support for asylum distribution law
  • State Sec. orders NS to reconsider rush hour charge, seek alternatives
  • Bus and taxi collide in Friesland, injuring 14 adults & children; 4 critically hurt
  • Dutch Senate rejects Work from Home bill by a single vote

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content