Toename datacenters in AI-race

Name: Toename datacenters in AI-race
Uploaded: 2026-08-11T07:30:10.000Z
Duration: 1 min 32 s
Channel: NPO Radio 1
Description: NPO Radio 1 examines the increase of data centers in the Netherlands within the AI race and its climate consequences, with Dutch data centers accounting for approximately 5 percent of energy consumption.

Met Clarice!NPO Radio 112 August 2026Watch on YouTube

What you'll learn

The tech lobby in Europe frames the AI race and climate goals as an either-or choice, even though the climate consequences are concrete and visible every day.
A data center in Sloterdijk means 30,000 homes in Amsterdam cannot be connected to the power grid.
Data centers are not transparent about their electricity and water use; annual figures hide the fact that water consumption peaks in warm periods.

Frequently asked questions

Why can a data center in Sloterdijk stand in the way of housing construction?

The data center demands so much capacity from the power grid that 30,000 homes in Amsterdam cannot be connected. Those homes will not be built as a result, even though the Netherlands has a housing shortage.

What does Fieke Jansen say about the transparency of data centers?

According to her, data centers reveal little about their electricity and water use. When they do share figures, these are often annual numbers that hide the fact that water consumption peaks in warm periods, when the water system is already under strain.

How large is the share of data centers in Dutch electricity consumption?

In 2024, data centers in the Netherlands consumed 5,100 GWh of electricity, about 4.6 percent of total consumption. That was 3.3 percent in 2021, and the share could grow to around 17 percent over the next ten years.