Nearly a third of the electricity capacity requested on the Netherlands’ grid connection waiting list comes from data centers, grid operators told Nieuwsuur. The requests amount to about 15 gigawatts, roughly the connection capacity of all Dutch households. Netbeheer Nederland is calling on the cabinet to decide where data centers may be built and under what conditions, including possible requirements on energy use, environmental charges, water consumption and reporting. The operators say a wave of new applications is putting further pressure on the already congested grid.

The Netherlands has almost 200 large and 300 smaller data centers, and about 200 more are expected, according to the account. Grid operators want the government to clarify whether all requested investments in grid expansion are needed and who should bear the costs. The Interprovinciaal Overleg supports clear national conditions but says provinces should retain responsibility for regional spatial planning. Municipalities formally decide where data centers are located, while grid operators decide on their electricity connections; in certain cases, operators may now give priority to projects such as new housing over data centers.