In light of environmental challenges and rising energy costs, LCL believes data centers must innovate in energy production, usage, and transformation. Nicolas Coppée: “Since its inception in 2021, the solar panel park in Gembloux has grown to 3,300 panels. With additional sustainable initiatives we ultimately aim to generate even more energy than we utilise, to store it or feed the surplus into the grid. LCL Wallonia One thus aims to become an energy producer within the network. This is a crucial step in our mission to lead in energy management.”

Storing generated electricity is challenging due to the scarcity of raw materials for battery production. “Yet, with rising energy costs, certain technologies are becoming more efficient and viable”, Nicolas Coppée notes. “We also see opportunities in green electricity generation from hydrogen and fuel cells, known for their environmental friendliness.”

LCL’s efforts to become a leader in sustainability in Belgium benefit its national and international customers, allowing them to demonstrate a neutral carbon footprint without bearing the heavy investment costs.

“Given that a data center’s energy consumption rivals that of a small city, prioritising energy efficiency is crucial. Our commitment to decarbonisation, active participation in local and sustainable energy production, and driving the net-zero transition sets an example for the industry, emphasising our integration of renewable energy into our core values.”

Responsible energy management

LCL’s ISO 50001 certification for energy management underscores our commitment to sustainability and our ongoing pursuit of industry-leading standards. “Our data center is a pilot project for responsible energy management for both LCL and the entire industry”, says Nicolas Coppée. “Amid rising energy costs, strategic and efficient energy management is crucial for LCL. Energy consumption represents our most significant environmental impact, highlighting the importance of effective energy management in cost reduction and achieving environmental goals.”

“We are now focused on sharing knowledge,” says Nicolas Coppée. “We are testing significant investments in energy efficiency improvements at LCL Wallonia One, which will later be implemented across all LCL data centers. Our commitment extends beyond certifications to include staff training, raising awareness, and integrating energy reduction into our DNA.”

LCL’s strategic vision involves proactive local and sustainable energy production. “By paving the way for a new era in energy-efficient data center operations, we strive to set a benchmark for sustainable data centers, responding to our planet’s environmental responsibility,” concludes Nicolas Coppée.

How does the construction of LCL’s fifth data center in Brussels-North contribute to the future needs of national and international customers?

Floris Smits: “At LCL, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve by adopting proven, cutting-edge technologies swiftly. Our new Brussels-North 5 data center exemplifies this approach. We’ve designed it with a modular construction strategy. This means the building will be fully finished on the outside, but the interior is developed in phases. Initially, we’ll have an operational data center on the ground floor, while the upper levels will remain in shell form and developed gradually to meet the specific needs of our customers. This phased approach allows us to offer tailor-made solutions and adapt quickly to market demands.”

“We adopt a modular construction approach: the upper levels of our newly built data centers retain a shell form, and are furnished gradually, allowing us to accommodate the specific needs of our customers and provide tailor-made solutions from the outset.”

Is there a growing demand for such tailored solutions in the market?

Floris Smits: “Absolutely. The market is rapidly evolving, especially with the surge in AI development. Training and deploying AI models demands immense computational power and energy. Traditional air-based cooling systems are insufficient for these needs, making liquid cooling an attractive alternative. Liquid cooling is more efficient as it conducts heat better than air, allowing us to maintain optimal operating temperatures even as demands increase. This shift not only meets the current requirements but also anticipates future advancements.”

“Liquid cooling also opens up new avenues for sustainability, such as heat recovery. Data centers generate a lot of residual heat. By capturing and repurposing this heat, we can warm nearby businesses or residential areas, positioning our data centers as green energy sources. At LCL Brussels-North, we are actively exploring ways to implement this sustainably across all our sites, turning our data centers into contributors to the local energy ecosystem.”

LCL has a long history and a strong track record – which makes it a very trusted partner indeed. How does this experience influence your approach to new projects like Brussels-North 5?

Floris Smits: “LCL has been here in Brussels-North – and other locations in Belgium – for over 20 years, steadily building our ecosystem rack by rack. Each project has grown in scale, reflecting our expanding capabilities and our commitment to meeting customer needs. For the new building, we aim to have a ‘day one’ data center by the end of 2025, with the building completed and a basic technical package in place. This will allow us to hand over spaces that customers can move into immediately. This expansion is a statement of LCL’s growth and our vision for the future, continually asking ourselves: ‘What can we do next?’”

In the early days, the data center industry was often overlooked by European policymakers. National associations did an excellent job at the local level, but there was a glaring absence of a unified voice to address the European Union. This changed with the establishment of EUDCA, which quickly identified the need to educate policymakers about the critical role data centers play in the digital economy. Laurens van Reijen, through his proactive engagement, helped bridge the gap between the data center industry and European institutions, ensuring that the industry’s unique needs and challenges were understood and addressed.

One of the most significant achievements of EUDCA, together with enterprises such as Amazon and Google, was the implementation of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (CNDCP) in 2021. This pact, which aims for climate neutrality by 2030, underscores the industry’s commitment to sustainability. It sets ambitious targets, including improving energy efficiency, using 100% carbon-free energy, prioritising water conservation, and promoting the reuse and recycling of resources. Michael Winterson states: “Since its launch, the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact has been wildly successful. The current signatories of the pact represent 90% of the industry in Europe and most of its key players. Big global names such as Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, IBM, Intel, SAP, and Facebook have signed up.”

“What’s also interesting is that LCL – as an independent private data center operator – has decided to operate at the highest possible level, comparable to the level at which Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and much larger companies with much larger funds can operate.”

The highest possible level

“The role of LCL and Laurens van Reijen was instrumental,” says Michael Winterson. “They were a driving force behind the scenes, rallying support from various stakeholders and ensuring that the pact’s targets were both ambitious and achievable. Laurens van Reijen’s determination has positioned the data center industry as a leader in sustainability, setting a benchmark for others to follow. Without his efforts, the EUDCA would have disappeared, and we wouldn’t have any representation in Brussels. We wouldn’t have seen any of this legislation coming and we wouldn’t have had a positive influence. The regulations would have been very clunky, very backwards and probably very expensive. The value of LCL in this process cannot be underestimated.”

Michael Winterson elaborates: “What’s also interesting is that LCL – as an independent private data center operator – has decided to operate at the highest possible level, comparable to the level at which Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and much larger companies with much larger funds can operate. So, I do think LCL sets an example in terms of sustainability. Taking the higher road might have been more expensive and it might have been harder work, but the benefit is better customers who also believe in what you want to do. By taking this stance, LCL has created a high level of transparency and trust, which makes it possible to win business that would have been exclusively going to some large international publicly traded company.”

The challenges facing the data center industry are numerous, from security concerns to the pressing need for sustainable energy solutions. “Laurens van Reijen’s foresight and leadership will undoubtedly continue to be crucial as the industry navigates these challenges. His work ensures that data centers are not just passive players but active contributors to the European digital economy’s growth and sustainability.”