A collective approach to energy use

Using server heat for greenhouses Data centres generate substantial amounts of heat as servers operate continuously. In the proposed Uithoorn system, this heat would be captured and supplied to the local heating network.

The exchange would work in both directions. Greenhouses would receive heat from the data centre, while cold water from the network would cool the server equipment.

The system is intended to operate as a closed loop, without using drinking water or surface water.

Depending on the temperature of the recovered heat and the requirements of the connected greenhouses, heat pumps may be required to upgrade the heat to a usable temperature. Rather than each grower installing and operating a separate heat pump, the equipment could form part of a central or collective energy system.

The recovered heat would then be distributed through a dedicated heating network to participating greenhouse businesses in the De Kwakel-Kudelstaart (DKK) area.

The proximity of the planned data centre to the greenhouse area is an important element of the project.

Transporting heat over shorter distances can help improve the efficiency and economic viability of residual heat projects.

Reducing pressure on the electricity grid One of the main arguments behind the initiative is the region’s limited electricity grid capacity.

Installing individual heat pumps at greenhouse businesses could significantly increase electricity demand. In an area where grid expansion is difficult, and space for new infrastructure is limited, the partners see a collective heating network as a potentially faster and more cost-effective solution.

According to the project partners, its planned electricity supply of 100 per cent Dutch wind and solar energy will meet the latest Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards.

The AMS6 data centre is expected to become operational from 2028 and will be housed in a repurposed logistics building. The project has been awarded an SDE++ subsidy, although the amount has not been disclosed publicly.

At the time of the agreement, no figures had been published regarding the system’s capacity, temperature levels or expected heat volumes in gigajoules.

Making the connection

Linking complementary energy flows The Uithoorn project illustrates a broader opportunity for greenhouse horticulture: connecting sectors with complementary energy flows.

Data centres require large amounts of cooling and produce significant quantities of residual heat. Greenhouses, meanwhile, have substantial, often year-round demand for heat.

By bringing these two sectors together, the project partners hope to create a local energy system that supports both the digital economy and the energy transition in horticulture.

Jeroen Larrivee, an energy expert at Greenport Aalsmeer, says the project could contribute to the future viability of the DKK greenhouse cluster. Greenport Aalsmeer is one of eight national triple-helix networks linking government, knowledge institutions and the horticultural industry.

“The Uithoorn region is home to a large number of energy-intensive greenhouse horticulture operations with significant heat demand. To ensure the future viability of the De Kwakel-Kudelstaart greenhouse cluster, it is essential to establish a district heating network with access to large-scale, affordable, and sustainable heat sources. Only then can a substantial portion of the heat demand be met through sustainable means.

“At the same time, the region faces grid congestion, making individual electrical solutions difficult to implement. In this regard, a data centre and greenhouse horticulture make an interesting combination. A data centre has a continuous need for cooling and, in the process, produces heat that is normally dissipated. Greenhouse horticulture, on the other hand, has a large and long-term heat demand. By linking these two systems, waste heat can be put to good use for heating greenhouses.”

Huibert Baud, director of customer & design at Liander, says the project demonstrates how different sectors can work together in response to grid constraints.

“This project demonstrates how sustainability, digital infrastructure and smart use of the power grid can go hand in hand. As a grid operator, we are also reaching the spatial and energy limits of the grid in this area. This can have consequences for housing development and economic activity.

“By making smart choices together with local governments and businesses such as centrally utilising waste heat and managing power flexibly, we can still enable growth despite these constraints. These kinds of choices and collaboration are desperately needed, because we can’t always do more of everything, everywhere.”

Pieter Duijves, COO and pioneer of the initiative at Switch Datacenters, says the project could demonstrate how data centre energy can be reused locally.

“As a data centre developer and operator, we want the energy we generate to be reused effectively. By supplying our green heat to growers as data-thermal energy and receiving cooling in return, we’re essentially using the already renewable energy twice: first to power the servers and then to heat the greenhouses.”

The multi-party agreement marks the beginning of the next stage in the development of the heating network. The project’s success will ultimately depend on whether the concept can be translated into a reliable and financially attractive solution for individual greenhouse businesses.

For growers in De Kwakel-Kudelstaart, the key question will be whether data centre heat can provide not only a lower-carbon alternative, but also a dependable and economically viable source of heat for the years ahead.