Schuiermanni, W.J (2023) Under what conditions could centralized level planning be feasible for hyperscale data centers in the Netherlands The case of the hyperscale from Meta in Zeewolde. Master thesis.
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Abstract
In a digitalizing world it becomes more important to store the large amounts of data the consumers use. To be as efficient as possible, the largest tech companies use hyperscale data centers to store their data. The Netherlands has certain factors, such as a suitable digital infrastructure and a suitable climate to facilitate these hyperscale data centers. Decentralized planning causes inefficiency for the planning of hyperscale data center locations since there are different stakeholders involved on different levels. National, provincial and local governance are involved in data center planning, but also regional and national electricity operators. For the local government this many stakeholders with different wishes and ambitions, combined with knowledge required on hyperscale’s, could make the planning of hyperscale data center locations a topic out of their league. This study aims to determine under which conditions centralized level planning would be feasible for hyperscale data center planning. To study why hyperscale data centers failed in the Netherlands in 2023 and what can be improved for future cases, I use the potential hyperscale data center location in Zeewolde as a case study. This consists of a mixed-method approach, with expert interviews on hyper scales and the electricity grid in the Netherlands, combined with other relevant documents. This to investigate when it would be feasible to change from decentralized level planning to centralized level planning. The results show that the national government only interferes with the decision by the municipality after the planning of the data center reaches national attention (due the impact data centers have on the electricity grid). The results suggest that centralized (ministry) level planning would be feasible when in the Netherlands there is congestion at the electricity grid. Hyper scales have too much impact on the electricity grid for municipalities to facilitate the planning. Another condition is if the Netherlands wants a more efficient and cheaper way of planning for hyperscale data center locations. Through an integrated planning process by the ministry, planning data centers combined with electricity planning would simplify the planning process. Fewer stakeholders are necessary and integrated approaches can reduce resistance because the planning would go simultaneously and you do not have to wait as long as a non-integrated planning process. These are two conditions during which centralized level planning would be feasible for the planning of hyperscale data center locations in the Netherlands.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Environmental & Infrastructure Planning |
| Supervisor: | Kann, F.M.G. van |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Jun 2023 09:10 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Jun 2023 09:10 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4179 |
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