Data Centre Strategy 2022 DATA CENTRE STRATEGY 2022 - AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY: AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY’S DATA CENTRE STRATEGY 2022 HAS ONE OVERALL GOAL

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Data Centre Strategy 2022 DATA CENTRE STRATEGY 2022 - AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY: AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY’S DATA CENTRE STRATEGY 2022 HAS ONE OVERALL GOAL:

MORE JOBS AND MORE PEOPLE SETTLING IN AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY ‘Aabenraa Municipality may evolve AS A RESULT OF THE DATA CENTRES. In order to achieve our overall goal, the Data Centre Strategy 2022 sets up six objectives with into one of the preferred European associated action plans which focus the efforts by Aabenraa Municipality, as follows: hubs where the data centre industry To attract more data centres has the best development potential 1 - for the benefit of citizens, -busi 2 To attract and develop downstream industry for the data centres nesses and the environment. We To increase the amount of sustainable energy and utilise surplus heat from the data centres and the companies must show 3 willingness to grow and seize 4 To attract and develop education programmes for the data centre industry the opportunities created by To attract a resident labour force for the data centre industry the Data Centre Strategy’. 5

To create collaborations on digitalisation through the data centres’ Community 6 Outreach projects

THOMAS ANDRESEN,” MAYOR, AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY

2 3 Overall goal – more jobs and more people settling in Aabenraa Municipality GOAL AND OBJECTIVES IN THE DATA CENTRE STRATEGY

Our Data Centre Strategy 2022 has one overall goal: ‘More jobs and more people settling in Aabenraa Municipality as a result of the data centres’.

This overall goal is divided into six objectives which 2. Strengths in the local business community within must be pursued simultaneously. Each objective is transport/logistics and circular economy associated with a number of actions which combined will focus our efforts leading up to 2022. 3. Technological development, including research and development projects OBJECTIVE 1 ATTRACTING MORE DATA CENTRES TO AABEN- OBJECTIVE 3 RAA MUNICIPALITY PRODUCTION OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND Our analyses show that if more data centres were UTILISATION OF SURPLUS HEAT, THEREBY CRE- to be established in Aabenraa Municipality we have ATING ADDITIONAL DOWNSTREAM INDUSTRIES optimal conditions for attracting downstream indus- IN SOUTHERN JUTLAND tries such as subcontractors and service providers in It is the ambition of Aabenraa Municipality to utilise ‘Aabenraa Municipality wishes to attract vocational This requires strong initiatives targeted at settlement, and connection with the construction and operation of data surplus heat from the data centres for district heating education programmes that reflect the needs of data Data Centre Strategy 2022 is thus establishing a number of centres. Thus, the objective is as follows: and possibly alternative uses that have socio-economic centres and downstream industries’. actions to achieve this objective. benefits and will fulfil the UN climate goals. At the same ‘In 2022, Aabenraa Municipality will be home to time, the utilisation of the surplus heat could create ad- Data Centre Strategy 2022 sets up actions which will OBJECTIVE 6 two operational data centres. Two more data ditional downstream industries based on research and attract and enhance vocational programmes locally, COLLABORATING ON DIGITALISATION THROUGH centres are in the planning stage’. development. Thus, the objective is as follows: e.g. education and further education of electricians, THE DATA CENTRES’ COMMUNITY OUTREACH HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) tech- PROJECTS If we are to achieve this objective, we must work to ‘Aabenraa Municipality works for both production nicians, field engineers and automation technicians. It is anticipated that the global IT companies behind achieve additional reliable power supply, fast data con- of sustainable energy and for development and im- the data centres will want to play an active role locally, nections, business areas covered by district plans and plementation of district heating solutions based on OBJECTIVE 5 e.g. in the so-called Community Outreach projects. further professionalisation of business services and mar- surplus heat, thus creating downstream industries ENSURING THAT PEOPLE WORKING IN THE Aabenraa Municipality wishes to target such collabo- keting. Data Centre Strategy 2022 sets forth a number of in Southern Jutland that will benefit Danish exports’. DATA CENTRE INDUSTRY SETTLE IN AABENRAA ration. Thus, the objective is as follows: actions which will achieve just that. MUNICIPALITY Data Centre Strategy 2022 comprises a number of ac- Already by construction start, employees associated ‘Aabenraa Municipality wishes to establish a OBJECTIVE 2 tions that will promote the necessary national framework with the construction may choose to settle down in long-term development collaboration with the IT ATTRACTING AND DEVELOPING DOWNSTREAM for additional production of sustainable energy and utili- Aabenraa Municipality, where construction and oper- companies behind the data centres within digitali- INDUSTRIES IN AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY sation of surplus heat, that will create the right regional ation of data centres will create steady jobs for many sation and education as well as welfare technolo- While the first data centre is under construction, and while collaboration and that will explore alternative utilisation years. Thus, the objective is as follows: gy for the benefit of citizens and businesses’. we are working to attract more data centres, we will simul- of surplus heat. Combined, these types of downstream taneously launch initiatives that will attract and develop industries can contribute to more jobs and more people ‘Aabenraa Municipality wishes to attract and retain To achieve this objective, Data Centre Strategy 2022 downstream industries. Thus, the objective is as follows: settling in Aabenraa. managers, technicians and construction workers establishes a number of actions that will inspire to who will accompany the construction and operation close collaboration with the data centre companies in ‘Leading up to 2022, Aabenraa Municipality will OBJECTIVE 4 of the data centres’. areas where Aabenraa Municipality is investing active- create a breeding ground that will attract and ATTRACTING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ly and enjoys good competences. develop downstream industries’. PROGRAMMES TO AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY It is a must for construction and operation of very large We will do this by means of numerous actions within data centres that no bottlenecks are encountered in three types of downstream industries: the recruitment of employees. This is best achieved The Data Centre Strategy is an important element in Aabenraa Municipality’s Growth if the education of the labour force to a large extent Strategy and Growth Plan 1. Contractors, subcontractors and service providers takes place locally and has a clear objective. In turn, Data Centre Strategy 2022 derives from Healthy Growth, Aabenraa Municipality’s Growth Strategy 2018-2030. It who are engaged in construction and operation of this will contribute to more jobs and more people set- generally contributes to the pursuit of the vision of Aabenraa Municipality as a world-renowned digital community, data centres tling in Aabenraa. Thus, the objective is as follows: and it is especially important for initiatives related to the focal point ‘Digital companies as growth catalysts’.

4 5 DATA CENTRES IN BRIEF FOUR GOOD REASONS WHY DATA CENTRES PREFER AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY Companies, organisations and authorities store their own data as well as the customers’, users’ or citizens’ data either on their own servers, with an external storage space provider or in ‘the cloud’.

FIRST Data storage with external providers and in the cloud store photos and videos, stream series and TV, play Aabenraa Municipality is home to one of the happens physically at small or large data centres. games, check the route on Google Maps or sell and biggest ‘power crossroads’ in Northern Europe. Hyperscale data centres consist of a number of data buy merchandise on the internet. All these daily trans- In Kassø, much of Scandinavia’s sustaina- centre halls where each data centre hall is the size of actions increase the total amount of data ‘in the cloud’. ble power in the form of north-/southbound several football fields and houses many thousands of Therefore, there is an increasing need for data centres high-voltage lines (400 KV) is crossing east-/ servers that store data. which are the cornerstone of the global infrastructure, westbound high-voltage power lines (150 KV). and which consumers and businesses expect to oper- In addition, there are obvious connection Worldwide, data usage is increasing dramatically as ate quickly and reliably. options (60 KV) at many locations THIRD billions of people and businesses globally share and in Aabenraa Municipality, e.g. in In collaboration with the data Padborg. centres, landowners and the Stohol City Council, Aabenraa Munic- ipality is developing district Power cable plans which will enable large Underwater fibre connection Fibre connection data centre constructions with . s Latency from Aabenraa (Kassø) an optimal location close to abundant, reliable SECOND power and with Aabenraa Municipality has available optimal fibre capacity of reliable, high-capacity connections in fibre connections and can e.g. all directions. offer four separate connections to the same building site, thus 2 3 preventing interruption in case of cable breakdowns. Starting in 2020, the new Mermaid Connection 11.4 s will guarantee additional fast data connections between Scandinavia and Blerg the United States that will secure Horns rev II Copenhagen 2. s 3.1 s the fastest possible connection. FOURTH Horns rev I Aabenraa Munici- 4 pality delivers solid Aaenraa and reliable business 2.3 s services that are confidential and fully supported by the City Council. For global, listed companies Haurg confidentiality is crucial when deciding upon their billion-dollars investments without their competitors finding out.

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Milano UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRUCTION AND During the construction phase, the need for man- tion, it is primarily employees with an IT background power will be considerable at the construction site. who are needed to ensure operation, i.e. monitoring, OPERATION OF THE DATA CENTRES IN The main contractor and a number of subcontractors maintaining and upgrading the servers. The data will need a lot of employees from the construction centre must be operational 24 hours a day, 365 days AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY industry, e.g. structurers, hall fitters, HVAC technicians a year. In addition to IT people, there will be a need and craftsmen within power and fibre connections for employees with knowledge of cooling, ventilation, as well as installation of servers. At other data centre power and fibre connections and likely also automa- It is expected that the construction of the data centres in Aabenraa Municipality construction sites, up to 1500 people have been tion technicians. will happen in stages, with a number of data centre halls being built over a number working during busy periods. In this phase, the local of years: community will no doubt experience an increasing For the servicing of the data centre, there will demand for accommodation, meals, shopping, etc. be other jobs which are related to monitoring and maintaining the buildings and the surrounding areas, First, data centre hall number one and the administrati- construction of data centre hall number two has probably When the operation of the first data centre hall is to e.g. gardeners, canteen staff, cleaning and security on and engineering buildings for the data centre will be already started, followed by data centre hall number be started, so is the recruitment of the approx. 100- personnel. constructed. When these buildings have been completed three, four etc. The data center grounds in the municipa- 150 employees needed to operate a data centre with and all the servers for data storage are in place, the data lity of Aabenraa have a size that allows a larger number one or two data centre halls. With respect to educa- centre will be commissioned. This typically happens two of data halls to be built continuously for the next 10-25 to three years after construction start. At that time, the years.

TYPICAL JOB CREATION OVER TIME FOR THE HYPERSCALE DATA CENTRE

Persons

Data Centre Data Centre Data Centre Data Centre Data Centre Data Centre Hall 1 Hall 2 Hall 3 Hall 4 Hall 5 Hall 6 1500

Busy periods

Job creation – operation

Job creation – construction 100

Time (years) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Legend: The blue graphs show the estimated number of managers, technicians and construction workers during the construction phase. The green line shows the estimated number of managers, technicians and service workers during the operation phase. The red field marks the busy periods.

8 9 OBJECTIVE 1

In 2022, Aabenraa Municipality will be home to two operational data centres. Another two data centres are in the planning stage.

In the short and medium term, Aabenraa Municipality • Leading up to 2023, a plan for expansion of the has the prerequisites necessary for additional data capacity of the transmission network in Southern centres to be established. We have several suitable Jutland and Aabenraa Municipality will be prepared areas close to the necessary reliable power supply by the Secretariat for Strategic Energy Planning and with fast data connections. In the future, Aabenraa aimed at accommodating the companies’ needs. Municipality will be able to immediately offer areas that are covered by a district plan to dynamic investors, ACTIONS TARGETED AT FAST FIBRE e.g. through strategic area acquisition. CONNECTIONS • Aabenraa Municipality will work to ensure that The actions outlined below shall help ensure that the Southern Denmark will remain the market leader right framework will also be available in the long term, within fibre connections by virtue of the smooth pro- and that we can offer business services and marketing cessing by authorities of cases concerning mainte- that actively work to attract and retain more data centres. nance and expansion of the fibre network. This will benefit citizens and companies, including the data Our ambition is to facilitate a rapid expansion of the centre industry. capacity of sustainable power production and transmission network. Our aim is to ensure that Southern ACTIONS TARGETED AT BUSINESS AREAS Jutland and Denmark reap the environmental benefits COVERED BY DISTRICT PLAN of the energy conversion, and at the same time we • 2019 will see the preparation of district plans for are- wish to accommodate future investors’ needs for relia- as that are suitable for data centres in Padborg. The ble and sustainable power supply. plans will be translated to English and German.

ACTIONS TARGETED AT RELIABLE AND • In 2019 and 2020, we plan to acquire strategic SUSTAINABLE POWER SUPPLY areas for data centres and/or data centre-related • In 2019, the opportunities for increased capacity in companies. the electricity supply grid in Southern Jutland and Aabenraa Municipality will be mapped out by the • In 2020, two additional district plan areas will be Secretariat for Strategic Energy Planning in collabo- prepared for the data centre industry adjacent to ration with the energy company, Energinet. existing data centre companies. The plans will be translated to English and German. • In 2019, Aabenraa Municipality will - in collaboration with landowners - launch an initiative concerning dialogue, business services and district plan development targeted at investors in large-scale sustainable energy production, e.g. solar cell plants, biogas or wind farms.

10 11 ACTIONS TARGETED AT PROFESSIONALISED tences visible as cooperation partners for data cen- MARKETING OF AABENRAA BUSINESS SERVICES AND MARKETING TO THE tre operators and downstream industries. MUNICIPALITY TO THE DATA DATA CENTRE INDUSTRY CENTRE INDUSTRY Regulatory processing by authorities of data The initial contact to data centre companies centre companies BUSINESS SERVICES IN • Aabenraa Municipality will continue its close, • Throughout the entire strategy period, Aabenraa ENGLISH AND GERMAN trusting and confidential collaboration with Invest in Municipality will have one project manager in our Denmark, including coordinated outreach initiatives regulatory department for each major data centre to selected potential investors. company that establishes itself in Aabenraa Mu- nicipality. The project manager will be the contact • We will strengthen the Danish investment initiatives person and case manager with respect to all reg- with concrete investment proposals, prospects ulatory procedures and will draw upon colleagues and presentations in English and German in areas with relevant specialties. where we have something to offer to foreign investors within the data centre industry/downstream Business services in English and German REGULATORY industries, sustainable energy production/utilisation • From mid-2019, all district plans relevant to data PROCESSING OF of surplus heat and logistics and transport. centres and downstream industries will be availa- DATA CENTRE COMPANIES ble in English and German on www.aabenraa.dk • Aabenraa Municipality is working constantly to ensure that its employees have the right business, • From mid-2019, an overview of total regulatory language and marketing competences. packages with requirements concerning content INITIATIVES REGARDING and timetable will be available in English and Ger- PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN DATA man on www.aabenraa.dk CENTRES AND LOCAL COMPANIES Fully confidential, targeted proposals and offers to the data centre companies Marketing of Aabenraa Municipality to the data • Throughout the strategy period, Aabenraa Munic- centre industry ipality will maintain an offer of business services • In 2019, the English version of the website with a single designated contact person to data aabenraa.dk will be supplemented with data centre centre companies which are seriously considering and branding videos in English, and the German establishing themselves in the municipality. The version will be supplemented with similar material contact person will coordinate responses and sug- in German. gestions to all questions about land, district plans, supply opportunities, partners in the local business • In the beginning of 2019, it will be evaluated community, contact with consultants etc. whether it will be useful for Aabenraa Municipality FULLY CONFIDENTIAL, TARGETED to participate in the Datacloud Nordic exhibition PROPOSALS AND OFFERS TO THE Partnership initiatives among data centre compa- with own stand in November 2018. DATA CENTRE COMPANIES nies and local companies • Throughout the entire strategy period, Business • In 2020, a number of English and German lan- Aabenraa will maintain and expand the supplier list guage industry-related media will be invited to of local companies, allowing them to introduce their Aabenraa, possibly in collaboration with Invest in competences to data centre companies and their Denmark. main contractors and subcontractors. • The establishment of the data centre industry • Throughout the entire strategy period, Aabenraa in Aabenraa Municipality will be exploited in the Municipality and Business Aabenraa will continu- ongoing branding initiatives in Denmark to attract ously monitor the possibilities of events for local more citizens and companies. INITIAL CONTACT TO THE companies, allowing them to make their compe- DATA CENTRE COMPANIES

12 13 OBJECTIVE 2 will be established in 2019 with construction of 5G research-based downstream industries may emerge, infrastructures starting in 2020 and establishment of contributing to the data centre infrastructure of the actual 5G application systems at companies or more future, e.g. fibre solutions, masts, antennas, power sav- broadly at the Transport Centre starting in 2021. ings, new cooling techniques, improved data handling Leading up to 2022, Aabenraa Municipality will create a breeding ground that will systems for the data centres, utilisation of surplus heat attract and develop downstream industries • In 2019, the efforts to facilitate partnerships for etc. This would offer opportunities for large companies foreign service providers and local companies within such as Danfoss and Grundfos, but also for research the field of waste disposal/recycling will continue. institutions such as SDU (University of Southern Jutland) Thus, the data centre industry will have an oppor- and DTU (Technical University of Denmark). If sufficient data centres are built and operated in attract more conference and trade show activities tunity to choose local service providers when the Aabenraa Municipality, a wide range of downstream to Aabenraa Municipality, targeting the data centre operating phase is started. • In the coming years, Aabenraa Municipality will industries may emerge around the new digital com- industry as well as other industries. follow the technological development in the data panies, including existing local companies with jobs • At the same time, Business Aabenraa and Aabenraa centre industry closely to ensure that through from the data centre industry and possibly within • Aabenraa Municipality will seek to establish collab- Municipality will offer assistance to local companies partnerships and business development, we can research and development. We must bear in mind that oration with Invest in Denmark and other relevant that wish to set up activities within waste disposal/ help local companies become part of a data centre the development of downstream industries will most actors to attract foreign contractors, subcontractors recycling of IT equipment in Aabenraa Municipality ecosystem. likely develop in waves and ripples, depending on the and service providers if several data centre con- leading up to 2023. number of data centres, the technology development, structions are started in Aabenraa Municipality. • In 2019, the possibilities for establishing focused international consumer patterns, etc. ACTIONS TARGETED AT DOWNSTREAM IN- twin city collaboration will be explored in places ACTIONS TARGETED AT DOWNSTREAM INDUS- DUSTRIES BASED UPON TECHNOLOGICAL where it is obviously a good idea to consider Nordic ACTIONS TARGETED AT DOWNSTREAM INDUS- TRIES BASED UPON THE STRENGTHS OF THE DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING RESEARCH AND and European data centre cities. TRIES BASED UPON CONTRACTORS, SUBCON- LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY – TRANSPORT/ DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TRACTORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS LOGISTICS AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY The technological development in the data centre • In 2021, Aabenraa Municipality will arrange innova- If a number of data centres are built in Aabenraa Aabenraa Municipality is already among the leading industry happens fast, and the data centres are con- tion weekends with interested partners, with focus Municipality over the next 10-25 years, a number of areas within transport and logistics with a very large stantly improved. With a number of data centres in on innovation and spin-offs from the data centres in contractors, subcontractors and service providers will number of companies and workers, especially in the Aabenraa Municipality, technological development- and Aabenraa and Denmark. likely consider establishing themselves in Aabenraa Padborg area. Evidently, it would be a good idea initially or Southern Jutland in order to be able to service the to promote partnerships with external transport and data centre industry in Denmark and Northern Europe. logistics companies which already provide services to Transport/logistics Until that happens, efforts will be made to create col- Apple, Facebook and Google, who are presently build- 5G testbed CONTRACTORS AND CRAFTSMEN Circular economy laboration and jobs for local businesses. ing data centres in Denmark. Project developers, Waste disposal architects, consulting engineers, building and • In 2019, the supplier network for companies in Once in operation, data centres must replace e.g. construction companies, electrical technology Aabenraa Municipality and Southern Jutland will servers on an ongoing basis. A specialised industry has companies, carpenters, PRODUCERS OF DATA builders, flooring compa- continue and be expanded to ensure jobs for local emerged which offers dedicated and certified waste CENTRE EQUIPMENT nies, glaziers, painters, subcontractors and service providers. disposal and recycling services to data centres, offering road-builders etc. IT equipment (servers, storage, special standards for safe disassembly, transportation network equipment, computers, cabinets, cables, transformers DATA CENTRE • In 2019 and 2020, further targeted partnership and separation in fragments for recycling. Here, too, etc.) and software (operating systems, security and encryp- arrangements will be organised for local subcontrac- there could be opportunities for local companies work- SUPPLIERS OF AIR AND tion systems, communication, tors and service providers and foreign companies in ing within the circular economy. COOLING SYSTEMS backup etc.) Equipment for monitoring the data centre industry. of ventilation equipment, • In 2019, Business Aabenraa, Padborg Transport temperatures, humidity, smoke detectors, fire • During the entire strategy period, assistance is Centre and Aabenraa Municipality will initiate an out- extinguishing equipment, PRODUCERS OF GREEN provided with respect to establishment of supple- reach effort toward European transport and logistics sprinklers, lights, water ENERGY SOLUTIONS pumps, sensors, cooling mentary hotel and conference activities in Aabenraa companies which specialise in solutions to the data systems etc. Suppliers of green energy, suppliers of surplus heat to di- Municipality in order to accommodate the expected centres in Northern Europe. strict heating systems, system increased demand, e.g. from the growing data cen- integration, heat pumps etc. tre industry in Southern Denmark. • Leading up to 2022, GateDenmark and Aabenraa SUPPLIERS OF RELATED SERVICES Municipality will work to ensure that Padborg Trans- Canteen operation, security and guard • When the hotel and conference capacity has port Centre develops into a recognised ‘test bed’ for services, gardeners, building maintenance, Research and been increased, additional efforts will be made to new technologies and systems. The first test run legal and auditing development assistance, accom- Innovation modation etc. Alternative use of surplus heat

14 15 OBJECTIVE 3 conditions for the utilisation of surplus heat which • In 2025, existing small and large Southern Danish would have socio-economic benefits and help companies and start-ups will have started testing achieve the UN’s climate goals. and production of technology for utilisation of surplus heat to the global data centre industry. Aabenraa Municipality works for both production of sustainable energy and for devel- • Through the Secretariat for Strategic Energy Planning opment and implementation of district heating solutions based on surplus heat, thus and relevant authorities, Aabenraa Municipality works ACTIONS TARGETED AT ALTERNATIVE UTILISA- creating downstream industries in Southern Jutland that will benefit Danish exports continuously to ensure that the municipalities are given TION OF SURPLUS HEAT opportunities for strategic development of areas for Only the imagination sets limits for the possible production of sustainable energy, e.g. large wind farms. large-scale utilisation of surplus heat in the immedi- ate vicinity of the data centres. It might be heating The upcoming data centres represent a great potential CHALLENGES FOR THE UTILISATION OF SUR- ACTIONS TARGETED AT REGIONAL COLLABO- of greenhouses, halls for hemp production (medical for utilising surplus heat for district heating. Surplus heat PLUS HEAT IN THE LEGISLATION AND THE TAX RATION REGARDING UTILISATION OF SURPLUS cannabis), tropical water parks, spa/wellness facili- from the cooling of the servers in the data centres can SYSTEM HEAT FOR DISTRICT HEATING ties, covered year-round camping sites with artificial be converted to district heating by means of heat pumps However, in order to utilise the large socio-economics • In 2019, the Secretariat for Strategic Energy Plan- beaches, air drying of agricultural products or some- and could in principle supply all district heating custom- and sustainability potential, a number of challenges ning in Aabenraa will be established, co-financed by thing totally different. ers in the major cities in Southern Jutland (Haderslev, need to be addressed at national level (legislation, tax- Aabenraa, Haderslev, Sønderborg and Tønder mu- Sønderborg, Tønder and Aabenraa – Rødekro, Padborg es), by cross-border municipal and regional coopera- nicipalities as well as the SYD ENERGI Foundation. • In autumn of 2019, Aabenraa Municipality will or- and others) as well as Flensburg south of the border. tion (district heating solutions) and in cooperation with ganise an innovation weekend, where the business the data centre industry and downstream industries • In 2020, Flensburg will be invited to join the com- community, tourist industry, educational institutions Popularly speaking, by modifying existing techni- (technical solutions). mon Southern Jutland strategic energy planning and innovative citizens and students from Southern cal solutions, one can reuse the sustainable power within the district heating area. Jutland will compete to develop the best concepts supplied to the data centres three times. The first Briefly, at national level, it is a challenge that the for exploiting the surplus heat. time, when the power is used to cool down the many production of district heating based on surplus heat is • In 2023, the first surplus heat from the data centres servers in the data centres. The second time, when not profitable with the current tax system and current/ in Aabenraa Municipality will be delivered to the the surplus heat is converted to hot water that may future legislation. Therefore, it is difficult for existing district heating network. be discharged into the district heating network. The district heating plants to use this option because they third time, if it is reused by building up storage capac- are obliged to choose the cheapest solution according ity for the heated water, which presently is the most to the Heat Supply Act. In addition, the abolishment of obvious way to store surplus energy. the legal obligation to join and the obligation to remain Haderslev connected also makes it difficult to create support for 120,000 In this way, the placement of a larger number of data long-term investments in a district heating network that MWh centres in Denmark based on sustainable power will may buy surplus heat from the data centres – even make a significant contribution in achieving global cli- though this would clearly be the right solution from a mate goals. In many other countries, data centres are socio-economic and climate point of view. Aabenraa 200,000 built in a warmer climate and are cooled by generators 60,000 MWh Aarhus or power plants driven by fossil fuel to the detriment of ACTIONS TARGETED AT NECESSARY NATIONAL MWh Tønder 200,000 the climate and without any reuse of surplus heat. FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS Sønderborg MWh Copenhagen • In 2019, the Secretariat for Strategic Energy Plan- It is the ambition of Aabenraa Municipality that sur- ning (SEP) and Aabenraa Municipality will invite the Odense plus heat from the data centres shall be utilised for Danish Parliament’s Energy, Utilities and Climate 300,000 district heating, energy storage and other alternative Committee to Aabenraa and other Danish data MWh Aabenraa uses, which will have socio-economic benefits and centre municipalities for a discussion of the national Flensburg Flensburg help reach the UN’s climate goals. challenges concerning utilisation of surplus heat.

At the same time, it is also the ambition of Aabenraa • Through the Secretariat for Strategic Energy Plan- District heating pipes Hamburg Municipality that the production of sustainable energy ning and together with other ‘data centre municipal- shall be expanded nationally and locally in order that ities’ and interest organisations, Aabenraa Munic- the power to the increasing number of data centres ipality continuously works to be an active voice in New district heating pipes for utilisation of surplus heat also becomes sustainable. the national debate regarding favourable framework

16 17 OBJECTIVE 4

Aabenraa Municipality wishes to attract vocational education programmes that reflect the needs of the data centres and downstream industries

In connection with construction and operation of large Aabenraa Municipality within electronics and HVAC. companies such as hyperscale data centres and their suppliers and service providers, there will be a num- • In 2022, the first electricians, HVAC and automation ber of new educational demands locally in Aabenraa technicians will be trained in Aabenraa. Municipality. These will cover everything from short courses for skills upgrading to additional craftsmen ACTIONS TARGETED AT FURTHER training programmes and from further education for up- DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, coming technicians in the data centre industry to study LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY programmes for the service industry. • In 2019, Aabenraa Municipality will cooperate with the existing educational institutions on expansion Skilled construction workers such as carpenters, of the education portfolio, including continuing bricklayers, painters, structurers, HVAC technicians, education of manpower for the operation of the construction technicians etc. are all trained in Aabenraa data centres, especially within the craftsmen Municipality. However, it is expected that there will be a programmes. need for additional study programmes and further education within electrical installation and HVAC (Heating, • In 2019, a strategic co-operation will be initiated Ventilation and Air Conditioning). Here, the need is ex- with institutions north and south of the border, e.g. pected to grow for both the construction and the opera- Odense, Sønderborg, Flensburg or Lübeck, aimed tion of the data centres. A large number of electricians at strengthening the medium-term programmes will thus be employed both during the construction within IT and automation. In 2021, courses and/or phase and later during the operation period. Therefore, programmes will be established in Aabenraa within data centre employees constitute a significant recruit- the same areas in cooperation with established ment basis for short further study programmes. institutions in the Border Region.

ACTIONS TARGETED AT RECRUITMENT AND • By 2020, the possibility of attracting courses or SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CONSTRUC- establishing cooperation with institutions offering TION PHASE user-financed specialisation and continuing educa- • In early 2019, Business Aabenraa and Job Centre tion courses in data centre operation will have been Aabenraa will establish a task force to assist the examined. main contractor and the subcontractors at the construction site in Kassø with recruitment/upgrading of • In 2020, Aabenraa Municipality will invite the data employees during the construction period. centres to a dialogue about educational cooperation and the proposal to provide participating educational • Starting in 2019, Aabenraa Municipality’s employ- institutions with the label ‘Southern Denmark Data ment plan must support the actions of the Data Centre Education and Training Centre’. Centre Strategy in order to facilitate the recruitment of employees. • We shall continue to support the educational institutions in Aabenraa Municipality and monitor the need ACTIONS TARGETED AT ATTRACTING for new education tracks on an ongoing basis for VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES TO the benefit of both construction and operation of the AABENRAA MUNICIPALITY data centres, and also for the subcontractors and • In 2019, more vocational education programmes and the service industry. short higher study programmes have been attracted to

18 19 OBJECTIVE 5 ACTIONS TARGETED AT THE RETENTION PHASE Aabenraa Municipality is already home to the German • In 2019, welcome meetings for newcomers will be minority’s German-language day care and education expanded to include English and German, as need- offers, including a number of preschool and primary Aabenraa Municipality wishes to attract and retain managers, technicians and construc- ed, targeted at the most obvious settlement candi- school programmes distributed throughout the munici- tion workers who will accompany the construction and operation of the data centres dates among managers and construction workers pality as well as a German upper secondary school for during the construction period. the entire Southern Jutland, located in Aabenraa city.

• In 2019, the municipal retention activities will be ex- • In 2019, the possibilities for establishing an Eng- The data centres will trigger further growth and activity • Starting in 2019, a separate branding effort will be panded on the social media, in English and German. lish-language room in an existing day care centre if Aabenraa Municipality succeeds in attracting and made to attract manpower for the data centre con- will be explored. retaining some of the many managers, technicians struction in Aabenraa Municipality, as needed. • In 2020, International Community Aabenraa will be and construction workers who will build and operate set up, a network targeted at foreign newcomers and • In 2019, the interest among the companies in data centres in Aabenraa Municipality, hopefully for a ACTIONS TARGETED AT THE RECEPTION PHASE aimed at improving the reception, integration and Aabenraa Municipality will be explored with respect very long time. • At the beginning of 2019, welcome packages in retention of the newcomers. to the establishment of an independent international English and German will be developed, targeted at primary school. Managers and specialised technicians will come the 10-20 per cent among the international manag- ACTIONS TARGETED AT DAY CARE AND from the data centre companies’ own staff, from con- ers, technicians and construction workers who have EDUCATION OFFERS IN ENGLISH • In 2019, the possibility of establishing an education tractors and consulting firms, and from subcontractors settlement potential. Day care and school offers in English and German are offer in English in existing independent schools or who work for the data centre companies. A number of considered to be crucial for attraction, reception and private schools in Aabenraa Municipality will be these managers are expected to be recruited abroad • At the beginning of 2019, the settlement and retention of the important foreign labour force. This ap- explored. and may be considering a move to Denmark with regulatory information on Aabenraa Municipality’s plies to managers, technicians as well as construction spouses and children. It is thus relevant with a settle- English and German websites will be expanded and workers during the construction and the operation pe- • In 2019, the possibility of establishing a free munici- ment initiative in Aabenraa Municipality. targeted at foreign settlement. riod, and it applies to both data centres and Aabenraa pality experiment with an English class in an existing Municipality’s other companies which employ foreign primary school will be explored. Technicians and construction workers make up the • In 2019, there will be welcome and network meet- manpower. largest number of employees, and about half of them ings in English and German for foreign newcomers. • In 2019, Aabenraa Municipality will facilitate a are expected to be foreign workers from Germany, The offers are directed at Danish as well as foreign debate among the various types of youth education Eastern and Southern Europe and Ireland. An estimat- • In 2019, data centre companies and relevant public families with focus on an international future for their concerning the establishment of education offers in ed 10-20 per cent of the technicians and construction authorities will receive offers comprising weekly children and at families which have previously lived English. workers could be a target group in connection with a visits by a mobile office or a permanent site hut, abroad. By the time the first data centre is com- settlement initiative. with participation of e.g. the Citizen Service Centre, missioned, expectedly in 2021, it is the ambition of SKAT (tax authorities), the State Administration, Aabenraa Municipality to have an English education Aabenraa Municipality is already working with three Job Centre, Info Centre Padborg, thus facilitating a offer at primary school level. At the same time, it is the phases/strategic focus areas of the settlement initia- smooth reception of newcomers. ambition that Aabenraa Municipality will be offering tive in order to attract more citizens to the municipality, English-language day care. namely the attraction, reception and retention phases. • Starting in 2019, obvious settlement candidates among managers, technicians and construction ACTIONS TARGETED AT THE ATTRACTION workers will be identified who – as a point of depar- PHASE, INCLUDING RECRUITMENT ASSISTANCE ture – will only stay in Aabenraa Municipality on a TO THE DATA CENTRE CONSTRUCTION temporary basis. These persons will be offered a • In 2019, a special settlement package will be ready personal welcome meeting and expanded in English and German for potential newcomers to packages and events. Aabenraa Municipality.

20 21 OBJECTIVE 6

Aabenraa Municipality wishes to establish long-term development collaboration with the IT companies behind the data centres within digitalisation and education as well as welfare technology for the benefits of citizens and companies

IT companies behind the data centres develop and sell ACTIONS TARGETED AT COLLABORATIONS hardware in the form of mobile phones, tablets and ABOUT DIGITALISATION THROUGH THE DATA computers as well as software and apps, which virtually CENTRES’ COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS all Danes use to some extent almost daily. Their pro- • 2019 will see the development of a catalogue of ducts are widely used at all levels of the healthcare se- proposals for IT companies behind the data centres ctor and the educational system. It is therefore natural with focus on IT & Digitalisation in the public schools to think about local cooperation opportunities with the and Digital Health and Welfare Technology. All of data centre companies. The ideas in this respect range the municipality’s administrations are included in the from hopes of sponsorship agreements, donations of development of ideas for the catalogue. IT equipment to collaboration on coding in the public schools etc. • In 2021, the first partnership will be entered into regarding education-related digitalisation in the public It is expected that IT companies behind the data schools in Aabenraa Municipality. centres will also be interested in local collaboration in Aabenraa Municipality, e.g. in the form of the so-called • 2022 will see the signing of the first partnership Community Outreach projects, where the companies regarding development and testing of welfare do just that - reach out in an effort to play an active role technology, including data centre companies, health in the local community that they have become part of. institutions and Aabenraa Municipality.

Aabenraa Municipality expects that the best opportu- • In 2022, all public primary schools and secondary nities for extensive cooperation opportunities with data education schools will have had an opportunity to Publisher: centre companies lie within digitalisation and educa- strengthen digital competences among children and Aabenraa Municipality tion as well as welfare technology - two areas where young people, including hacker courses, coding Skelbækvej 2 Aabenraa Municipality is actively investing and has and special theme courses about data, e.g. through DK-6200 Aabenraa good competences. courses for math teachers, through collaboration www.aabenraa.dk with players within the data centre industry or club At the same time, it is important that Aabenraa Municipa- cooperation such as Coding Pirates. Version: lities’ initiatives to collaborate with the data centre com- Up to date: September 2019 panies are prioritised and well thought through, ensuring that both parties’ interests are taken into account. Editing, design and layout: City Council and Management Secretariat [email protected]

Design: tegnerum.dk

A digital version of the publication is available at aabenraa.dk

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