With plans for large data centres near Nørre Alslev and Rødbyhavn, Lolland-Falster could soon see several new major electricity consumers. But who should get priority when grid capacity is scarce?
For Steffen W. Frølund, Liberal Alliance’s spokesperson for energy, climate and business and deputy chair of the Danish Parliament’s Climate, Energy and Utilities Committee, the answer should not depend on which industry a company belongs to.
- Two projects that are identical from the grid’s point of view should be treated equally. That is our message. A data centre is neither better nor worse than any other business project, he tells FemernBusiness.
The emergency plan for the electricity grid places large data centres at the bottom of the queue. Projects that place less strain on the grid can receive a higher priority, but only within the same category.
Frølund would rather impose requirements for early payment and ensure that projects are serious and sufficiently mature.
- Until recently, anyone with an idea scribbled on a napkin could join the queue. But prioritising projects according to subjective, centrally planned criteria is not the right solution, he says.
He believes the agreement is damaging to Danish business and digitalisation. However, he sees no easy way to change it.
- Politically, a fairly large majority has unfortunately just reached an agreement that is very harmful to Danish business and digitalisation. So it will not be easy for us to change it, he says.
