Massive data center in Denmark sparks debate over energy use and climate goals

A planned hyperscale data center in Holbæk, Denmark, would consume more electricity than all existing Danish data centers combined, raising concerns about its impact on the country’s green transition, DR reports.

The facility, with a capacity of 350 megawatts, has drawn criticism from local group Ét Grønt Holbæk (“One Green Holbæk”), which argues that its energy demands conflict with Denmark’s climate commitments.

“We cannot have a data center of this scale, with this energy consumption, while also meeting the green transition we’ve promised each other—and that politicians have promised us,” said Søren Bak Sommer, a spokesperson for the group.

According to a screening by energy operator Energinet, the center’s power needs would exceed local supply, requiring backup gas turbines to cover demand for 141 days a year—with 25 of those days relying solely on gas-generated electricity for the servers. The group warns that gas turbines, even if partially fueled by biogas, undermine climate goals and could harm local air quality.

“Roaring gas turbines are not compatible with a green future,” Bak Sommer said, calling for responsible planning. “This is about politicians keeping their promises. We’ve all been promised a greener future.”

Holbæk’s mayor, Christina Krzyrosiak Hansen (Social Democrats), has welcomed the project for its potential job creation and reuse of excess heat but acknowledged public concerns. In a written response, she noted that upcoming planning processes would address energy and environmental questions.

Industry representatives argue that data centers are essential for digital infrastructure, from public services to streaming, and that centralized facilities are more efficient than decentralized servers. Henrik Hansen, director of Datacenter Industrien, said, “They use a lot of energy, but far less than if data were stored on individual company servers as they were 10–15 years ago.”

Brit Ross Winthereik, a professor of human-centered digitalization at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), said the debate reflects broader tensions over energy allocation. “We need to discuss who gets access to renewable energy, because it becomes a scarce resource when data centers consume this much power,” she said, warning that such demand could delay Denmark’s climate targets.