For data centers, sharing current capacity through joint agreements with network operators is not really useful for the time being. But that can change if government policy in the field of spatial planning, energy and economy is better coordinated.
Stijn Grove, director of the Dutch Data Center Association (DDA) states this in a response to changes in the regulations that the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) recently announced. Multiple major consumers will soon be able to share transport capacity on the net more easily, while retaining their own connection.
Grove: “For data centers this does not have immediately added value for now, because a data center normally needs continuous capacity and therefore has little to exchange at times when they need less.” He does consider it possible that smaller data centers use these relaxed regulations, but in combination with (large) batteries, for example. In this way, groups of moments can also be able to reduce other participants in the power group.
Beautiful concept
The regulator presented a draft decision last Thursday to which market parties can respond. The ACM expects to make a final decision in the autumn. The changing rules on this must make it easier for companies to coordinate the demand and supply of electricity locally.
Grove calls this working in ‘Hubs’ a nice concept, but does not see so quickly how larger data centers can use this in practice. Companies that work together in the energy area must be close to each other, preferably on the same company site, want to make sense.
‘Cable Pooling’ where multiple renewable energy sources such as sun, wind, batteries and heat/power share one connection to the electricity grid, is also expensive. Such projects for ‘balancing’ cannot easily be made profitable, especially if the mutual distances are too great.
Many silos
The DDA director thinks that much more coordination in policy is needed to be able to collaborate smarter and to create the right climate for Cable Pooling. According to Grove, this requires good coordination between spatial planning, energy planning and the economic planning of the Netherlands.
The various ministries, provinces and municipalities involved in the establishment of data centers still work too much in silos next to each other. Spatial planning, energy systems and economic planning must be very well coordinated.
If you can collaborate smarter where the ACM is now giving an impetus, there will be more room within one area on the power grid for other users, which can prevent Netcongestie. Grove is happy with the intentions of the ACM, but the practice is difficult for the data centers: “But if it’s up to us we’ll do it tomorrow.”
