When it comes to waste heat, you essentially have two options: you can let it go to waste, or you can put it to good use by recycling it, by using it as a heat source for other buildings, for example. Four organizations based in the Dutch town of Aalsmeer decided to pursue this latter option, and with the City of Aalsmeer as the driving force, they shaped their ideas into an ambitious project called the Aalsmeer Energy Hub.

Smart Transfer of Hot and Cold Air:
Heat Exchanged for Coolness. The outcome: high energy savings for all parties involved! Four local players based in Aalsmeer joined forces for the Hornmeer project, working with the City of Aalsmeer for a total of four years to get the project off the ground. NorthC Datacenters supplies the waste heat from its Aalsmeer site to child center Triade, sports center De Waterlelie and Fertiplant, a company specializing in the export of potted plants. In exchange for this waste heat, NorthC is supplied with cool air to keep its data rooms at the right temperatures. This is a smart partnership with sustainable results, as the carbon reduction is equal to the carbon emissions generated by around 74 homes. The initiative also received support from other organizations. The project was funded by an Energy subsidy reserved for sectors and industries that are vital to the national economy, provided by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.

Timeframe
The five parties teamed up to create the Aalsmeer Energy Hub over a 4-year period. We took a number of key steps, overcame various challenges, and celebrated our successes. You can read more about the project’s key milestones below.


Partners
These five partners teamed up to create the Aalsmeer Energy Hub.

Child center Triade
“We want to leave the world behind in decent shape for future generations, as well as acknowledging the importance of the educational aspect.”

Sports center De Waterlelie
“We decided to join this project because we’re consuming existing energy, which can therefore be put to good use.”

Fertiplant
“Just like with our plants, we’re participating in this project because we want to make the world a little greener.”

City of Aalsmeer
“This project could only be possible through cooperation between the City and various businesses and NGOs.”

NorthC Datacenters
“We managed to find a shared sustainable goal together which I think can make us a role model for others”
Smart Cooperation
for Sustainable Results