Data centres use an increasing share of Dutch electricity
The debate centres on the trade-off between digital services, grid capacity and transparency over energy use.
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Data centres were once again the subject of debate because of their energy consumption and the pressure on the Dutch electricity grid. According to CBS figures cited by NOS, data centres used 5.1 billion kilowatt-hours in 2024, 4.6 per cent of national electricity consumption.
The figure concerns electricity supplied to data centres in 2024. It is a measurement of consumption, not a forecast of future demand and not a direct measure of climate damage either: the source of the electricity, the efficiency of the equipment and the use of residual heat are among the relevant factors.
NOS writes that data centres’ electricity consumption almost doubled in five years. The figures make clear why data centres keep returning in discussions about grid congestion and location policy. At the same time, they provide digital storage, computing power and connectivity used by consumers, businesses and governments.
Part of the debate concerns transparency. According to NOS, data on the water and electricity consumption of many data centres is not publicly available, even though European reporting rules are intended precisely to measure the impact more effectively. Without comparable data for each location, it is difficult to compare companies, technologies and regions fairly.
The Dutch government already has rules on energy-efficiency reporting. RVO writes that data centres must once again submit information about their energy efficiency in 2026. This does not mean that all consumption data automatically becomes public; according to RVO, commercial confidentiality may play a role.
The policy question is therefore not simply whether data centres are needed. It also concerns location, timing, grid capacity, energy efficiency and which digital applications should take priority when electricity is scarce. The available figures confirm growing consumption, but do not by themselves show which specific projects are socially profitable or exactly how much energy smartphones and other services can be attributed to data centres.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- According to NOS, CBS calculated the electricity consumption of Dutch data centres in 2024 at 5.1 billion kilowatt-hours.
- According to NOS, this amounted to 4.6 per cent of national electricity consumption.
- RVO has a reporting requirement for the energy efficiency of data centres.
- According to NOS, much data on water and electricity consumption is not publicly available.
Left
Arguments New data centres should be strictly limited as long as energy, water and grid capacity remain scarce. Digital growth must not come at the expense of climate goals and public services.
Values Collective scarce resources, climate protection and democratic transparency.
Consequences Stricter location requirements may slow growth, but could reduce pressure on infrastructure and the environment.
Centre
Arguments Data centres are needed for the economy and public digital services, but must demonstrably operate efficiently and fit within available grid capacity. Transparent reporting and location policy can bring these interests together.
Values Proportionality, reliable information and workable governance.
Consequences A more selective policy could preserve useful capacity and limit waste, but requires reliable data and enforcement.
Right
Arguments Digital infrastructure supports entrepreneurship, innovation and strategic autonomy. The government should mainly provide room to grow and prevent opaque rules from driving investment to other countries.
Values Economic growth, technological competitiveness and limited government intervention.
Consequences Greater scope for data centres could create jobs and digital services, but without sufficient conditions would increase pressure on the electricity grid and surrounding area.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The electricity consumption, its share of national consumption and the reporting requirement can be found in public sources. The text avoids claims about specific future projects or exact climate benefits.
- confirmed Data centres used 5.1 billion kilowatt-hours in 2024. — NOS reports this on the basis of CBS figures. source
- confirmed That was 4.6 per cent of national electricity consumption. — NOS gives this share. source
- confirmed Data centres must once again report energy-efficiency data in 2026. — RVO describes the reporting requirement for 2026. source
- incorrect All consumption data is publicly available. — NOS reports instead that much data is not publicly available; this claim is not included in the article. source
Editor's note
The current consumption figure comes from CBS data as presented by NOS. The precise distribution between data centres, applications and locations is not fully public in the sources used.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- Trouw — „datacenters energie”
- RTL Nieuws — „datacenters energie”
- FD — „datacenters energie”