Data centre heat to warm greenhouses

Denmark’s Minister for Cities and Rural Districts Morten Dahlin has granted permission to plan for a data centre and greenhouse complex near Krageris. The project now awaits political approval of the necessary planning proposals before moving to the next phase.

Sarah Andersen, mayor of Varde Municipality, welcomed the decision.

– In Varde Municipality, we want to create growth and development in local communities – partly through new industries like data centres. We’ve worked strategically on this in recent years, so it’s very positive that we’ve now received permission to create local plans for data centres and greenhouses in Krageris. I look forward to the upcoming process in close dialogue with neighbours and the local community, she says.

Political process ahead

The ministerial permit is an important step, but political approval is still required before the project can proceed.

First, the municipal administration must examine the ministerial approval closely. Then the further political process must be planned so politicians can decide whether the project should be implemented.

Sector coupling project

The project is a sector coupling initiative. Meaning excess heat generated by the data centre will be used to heat the greenhouses for year-round vegetable production.

Nordic firm atNorth is the main stakeholder in the project, which will be realised in partnership with a group of investors.

The project area covers 174 hectares in total, including 225,000 square metres for data centres and 475,000 square metres for greenhouses. Construction is expected to be completed by 2030.

Varde Municipality has appointed an external community consultant to strengthen dialogue with the local community. The consultant operates independently of the municipality and can advise neighbours in their dialogue with the municipality and project partners.

A dialogue group consisting of volunteer neighbours has also been established.