6 March 2017 | News
Schiphol Trade Park and Haarlemmermeer commit to strengthening digital infrastructure with its Green Datacenter Campus
In the National Smart City Strategy NL, it recently emerged that the Netherlands is behind its international competitors in realising a state-of-the-art, open, superfast and secure digital infrastructure. By establishing a Green Datacenter Campus at Schiphol Trade Park in Hoofddorp, the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, Schiphol Group and SADC are demonstrating their commitment to strengthening the country’s international digital competitiveness. The Green Datacenter Campus will be an efficient and, above all, sustainable datacentre ecosystem covering some 20 hectares. The campus is already attracting a lot of International interest and the first data centres are expected to be set up in 2018.
Schiphol Trade Park aims to be a forerunner in sustainability and innovation. Covering an area of approximately 140 hectares, it was awarded BREEAM**** certification in 2015. Schiphol Area Development Company (SADC) and the Green IT Amsterdam Foundation joined forces in 2016 in order to link up sustainability and digital infrastructure. It is this alliance that has resulted in the concept of the Green Datacenter Campus for Schiphol Trade Park. Adam Elzakalai (municipality Haarlemmermeer alderperson): “The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, which includes municipality Haarlemmermeer, is already a popular place in which to establish data centres. By also offering space for them, we can take full advantage of the economic opportunities offered by the digital economy”.
The campus is set to be a place in which data centres, service partners and data centre specialists from the worlds of IT, energy, engineering and knowledge institutions come together to form a datacentre ecosystem. The advantages for data centres include campus security at zone level, adequate power supply thanks to Alliander’s new 400 MVA power station and the space to expand and capitalise on the excellent connectivity (thanks to the world’s largest internet exchange point AMS-IX in close proximity). The Green Datacenter Campus will create unique opportunities for facilitating pioneering initiatives, such as the stable integration of renewable energy and heat exchange. For example, the supply of residual heat can be combined in a single infrastructural supply and connected, for example, to the nearby greenhouse horticulture area. Together with GreenIT Amsterdam and market players, efforts are being made to find innovative solutions that will contribute to the transition towards a circular economy.
André van den Berg (CCO Schiphol): “The development of the Green Datacenter Campus strengthens Amsterdam Schiphol Airport’s position as a major transport hub. The further development of digital infrastructure will also be of crucial importance for Schiphol’s future.”