Alphabet Inc.’s Google said it would invest 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to expand its data center infrastructure in the Netherlands. The search giant will build a new facility in Agriport, about 30 miles north of Amsterdam. The company will also expand its existing facility about 130 miles further north, in Eemshaven. Google didn’t specify what its new facilities would be used for.
Joe Kava, vice president of Google’s Global Data Centers, said in a statement that the Netherlands was attractive for its "ample sustainable energy sources." He also informed that the two sites would employ around 500 people once they are built. In 2018, Google had invested EUR 1.5 billion in the Netherlands for data center operations.
Google’s move to Netherlands is part of ongoing attempts by tech companies to capitalize on the availability of renewable resources. Most leading tech companies are expanding their presence in the region. With greater access to renewable power, the companies can bring down their dependence on fossil fuels. It will help them minimize their carbon footprint. Facebook Inc. has a facility in Lulea, northern Sweden. Also, Microsoft Corp.’s data center in the Netherlands is a regional hub for its cloud computing services.
As the global data-center storage market is growing, tech companies are increasing their presence in Europe. Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and Alibaba have invested in the region. In Europe, Google has data centers in Dublin (Ireland), Fredericia (Denmark), Hamina (Finland) and St Ghislain (Belgium). With the latest expansion, Google’s total investment in the country has gone up to EUR 2.5 billion. It is expected to boost the company’s position in the cloud computing market in Europe. Besides Europe, Google has facilities in Singapore and Taiwan as well as across the USA in Oregon, Tennessee, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina.
