The plans for a Google data centre in Bissen were once again in the spotlight in parliament on Thursday morning, as Green MP Joëlle Welfring reserved strong criticism for the project’s energy efficiency. In comparison to other Google sites, the data centre does not quite meet European standards.
In addition, the site would use huge amounts of electricity, with estimates reckoning it could use 1,000 gigawatt hours a year, which corresponds roughly to the amount used by all of the country’s households. While the electricity will entirely come from renewable energy, there is no obligation to produce even a part of it in Luxembourg, Welfring said.
There are also questions as to what will happen with the excess, or waste, heat. Welfring emphasised that the heat generated by the data centre could be used for thousands of households, and urged more innovation for the project. This could potentially improve the project’s acceptance among members of the public.
The economy minister, Lex Delles, said he could partially understand the criticism, but pointed to the project’s development. The authorisation procedure dates back to 2020 and technical advances have occurred since then. Naturally, Luxembourg’s electricity supply capacity would have to be increased, as has been the case previously, notably with the 380 line to Germany.
The government also wants an energy-efficient data centre, he added. The waste heat should be recycled where possible, but not at all costs. The minister explained there was no national framework yet and that such infrastructure is not always easy to implement.
Delles also placed the project in a larger context: in order to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty, Luxembourg would need data centres. But it is not about attracting huge infrastructures. Luxembourg’s strength would rather lie in a reliable infrastructure that is safe and powered by renewable energy.
