How Google searched and found the TopDutch region
Another expansion for Google’s data center located in the TopDutch region was announced in June, 2019, the second in roughly a year. How did Alphabet Inc. land in the North of the Netherlands? A story of search and find.
Did you know that Google’s data centers are among the most efficient in the world? They use an average of 50 percent less energy than ‘traditional’ data centers. The company has been CO2 neutral for over a decade. Since 2017, its energy consumption has been offset by 100 percent renewable energy. For all its activities. With two of their three core pillars being digital and green (the third being talent), Alphabet Inc. considered the TopDutch region suitable for the expansion of its activities.
Google in Eemshaven
The exact location of Google’s data center in the TopDutch region is Eemshaven, the port of Groningen. It opened in December 2016. Roughly a year later - in March 2018 - the company announced its plans for the first expansion. By June 2019, Google had already planned the second expansion. In total, the company has invested around 2 billion euros in its TopDutch region data center.
Cas König, CEO of Groningen Seaports, is delighted with Google’s second expansion in Eemshaven. ‘Google’s new investment in our region places Eemshaven even more prominently on the international map as a location for data centers. Eemshaven is able to provide all the facilities needed in terms of space, green electricity and fiber-optic cables. Google’s total investment of 2 billion euros in Eemshaven will provide hundreds of jobs for different levels of education. A great addition to our area.’
This investment means a boost for employment in the region. I am also happy that Google is purchasing 100 percent renewable energy.
Eric Wiebes, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate
Google’s TopDutch data center
The second expansion’s announcement comes just as the foundation for the first expansion of the data center is being laid. Google is investing 500 million euros for the second expansion, which should be ready by 2020. An infrastructural investment, to support the strong and growing demand for services such as Search and YouTube. As well, Google has a Google Cloud Region in the TopDutch region. That service allows customers and users in the whole of the Netherlands and its surrounding areas to use Google Cloud services close to home.
The data center in the TopDutch region was Google’s first to run entirely on green energy from day one. The energy is supplied by Eneco’s offshore wind near the TopDutch coast and its solar parks. And did you know that Eemshaven has the highest redundancy for electricity in the Netherlands? As well, the TopDutch region is an international infrastructural node for green energy.
Eric Wiebes, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate, is happy with the investment decision. ‘This cabinet has the ambition to become a digital leader in Europe. That is why we are making efforts to ensure that investments in high-quality innovative IT projects are made in the Netherlands. This investment means a boost for employment in the region. I am also happy that Google is purchasing 100 percent renewable energy.’
TopDutch talent
The TopDutch region is known for its highly educated, digitally skilled workforce. The second expansion of Google’s data center in the region means an increase of around 100 job positions. Once completed, the Google data center will provide 350 jobs for TopDutch talents. As well, on average, 1,000 people will be working at the data center site during the construction phase.
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