The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany has been advocating for the data centre industry in Germany since 2018. This year, NorthC has also became part of this initiative, which was founded under the umbrella of the eco Association. In this welcoming interview, Donald Badoux, Managing Director DACH, talks about the special features of the data centre operator, the role of AI for the digital ecosystem, and current industry challenges.
Can you briefly introduce NorthC Datacenters?
The NorthC Group currently operates data centres in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, with continuous plans for expansion in the Benelux and DACH regions. NorthC is characterised by a strong regional presence in various regions, high-quality services, and customised connectivity and hybrid cloud solutions. Our roots are in innovation, as NorthC was founded in 2020 through the merger of two Dutch IT pioneers: The Datacenter Group and NLDC. With the acquisition of Germany’s IP Exchange data centres in 2022, we expanded our footprint and are now one of the leading providers of regional data centres in Europe.
Our name not only symbolises geographical proximity, but also represents a clear internal compass that guides us towards sustainable growth and innovation. NorthC stands for lived openness, flexible solutions, entrepreneurial drive and deep regional roots. We foster customer proximity and combine technology with local commitment to ensure future-proof partnerships at eye level. Our data centres are the pivot point of a digital ecosystem that connects companies. We focus on human touch that builds trust and strengthens personal relationships.
NorthC positions itself as a regional data centre provider with international expertise. What does this mean for your customers?
NorthC Datacenters combines regional presence with global expertise to offer customised and secure data centre solutions. Customers benefit from short distances, personal service and deep regional networks, while simultaneously ensuring international standards for security, scalability and sustainability.
In the Netherlands, NorthC is already implementing exclusive sustainability solutions, which – where infrastructure allows – will be gradually extended to all locations of the group. With strategically distributed locations in the Netherlands and the DACH region, NorthC enables reliable IT infrastructure with high availability. Additionally, the company offers hybrid cloud and connectivity solutions that are specifically tailored to the needs of SMEs and large enterprises. This gives customers the flexibility and innovative strength of a global player with the reliability of a regional partner.
Sustainability is a key topic in the data centre industry. What measures do you take to ensure your data centres operate as efficiently and climate-friendly as possible?
NorthC has set the goal of being climate-neutral by 2030 and is pursuing five central sustainability strategies to achieve this. As one of the first data centres worldwide, we are replacing the industry-standard diesel generators with hydrogen fuel cells in Groningen (NL) and plan to produce our own green hydrogen from wind and solar energy.
Our data centres use 100% renewable energy, rely on energy self-sufficient concepts, and are prepared for utilising waste heat. The prime example is our data centre in Rotterdam, where 10,000 households are supplied with this waste heat. Thanks to modular construction and intelligent sensors, we reduce energy consumption by optimally operating only the required systems, thus minimising electricity consumption as much as possible.
In addition, we are continuously optimising our operating processes with AI-supported systems to steadily improve efficiency and further improve sustainability in our data centres. Our commitment has already been recognised: In 2024, we received the Platinum Award in the “Green Colocation” category at the Datacenter Insider Awards from Vogel IT – all of which is a strong indication that we are on the right track.
Artificial intelligence is placing ever-increasing demands on digital infrastructures. How is NorthC adapting to this shift?
NorthC is responding to the rising demands of AI with a flexible and scalable data centre infrastructure. Our data centres are designed for high energy efficiency and sustainable operations to optimally support the growing demand for computing power. Through modular construction methods and the latest cooling technologies, we ensure that capacities are used in a demand-oriented and resource-efficient manner. In addition, we use AI to optimise our own operational processes in order to further improve efficiency and sustainability. With future-proof infrastructure, we create the foundation for high-performance digital ecosystems.
What challenges do you currently see for data centres in Germany? And how would you like to contribute to finding solutions together with the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures?
Data centres in Germany are facing challenges such as increasing energy requirements, stricter sustainability requirements and the need for a resilient digital infrastructure. In addition, long approval processes and limited availability of space complicate the expansion of new capacities. As a member of the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, we are committed to improving the political and economic conditions for promoting sustainable and future-proof data centres. Together with the Alliance, we are working on solutions for more efficient energy use, the integration of renewable energies and the promotion of innovative technologies. Through this collaboration, we are strengthening Germany’s digital sovereignty and driving the transformation towards a climate-friendly and high-performance infrastructure.
Thank you very much for the interview!
The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures is an association of leading companies in the industry. Founded in 2018 under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, the initiative aims to draw attention to the importance of digital infrastructures for Germany as a business location through dialogue with policymakers and the public.
