Zellik, 21 September 2022 - Today, VUB rector Jan Danckaert and Minister for Education and the Vlaamse Rand Ben Weyts laid the foundation stone of the Uptime Tier III accredited Nexus data centre at Green Energy Park. The first "sustainable by design" data centre with dual certification forms the cornerstone of the CO2-neutral multi-energy grid at the Research Park in Zellik. The start of a renewable energy community has been given.
Besides the servers of the UZ Brussel and the VUB, Nexus may also accommodate the latest generation supercomputers. As well as educational, healthcare and government institutions, Nexus targets various innovative international and national companies.
Nexus, a sustainable CO2-neutral data centre
The approximately 10,000 m² building spread over nine floors is unique in Belgium. The design focuses on maximum energy efficiency. The energy used is 100% renewable, partly generated locally. In addition, the heat from the servers is recovered, rainwater is used for cooling and the building uses circular materials.
Jan Danckaert, VUB rector: "This is not only the first stone of Nexus, but also for Green Energy Park. With this, we are now also physically building a Research Park where VUB scientists and companies can work in the future. The VUB is happy that its servers can be housed in Nexus. This gives us the digital infrastructure to spread science around the world and help people. In 2023, Nexus will be ready and there is more than enough space for the new Flemish supercomputer."
An additional advantage of this location is that the Flemisch supercomputer can be housed amidst the companies on the Research Park. Companies that can use it here, in addition to the UZ Brussel and the VUB.
Tom Coolen, director ICT at UZ Brussel: "As a hospital, we are delighted with the start of the construction of this state-of-the-art data centre. ICT is very important for the operation of the hospital and Nexus will allow us to take our IT infrastructure to the next level in terms of performance, security and continuity."
Deputy Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, Flemish Minister for Education, Sports, Animal Welfare and the Vlaamse Rand, Ben Weyts: "Projects like this in the Vlaamse Rand prove that we can fully commit to the digital future in a sustainable way. We are therefore pleased that the heat from Nexus will in the future heat the Research Park's companies and the surrounding area in an innovative way. I am convinced that this exemplary project will inspire others. This state-of-the-art data centre will also attract international attention."
Companies at the Research Park will be supported in their IT infrastructure through scalability and maximum connectivity without limitation. The recovered heat from the servers will be used to heat the future buildings at the Green Energy Park. Nexus thus consumes as much energy as it gives back and is key to the ambition of CO2 neutrality of the entire Green Energy Park by 2030.
Mayor of Asse, Koen Van Elsen: "Nexus offers great added value for the companies on the Research Park. The Research Park will also attract new companies, thus providing more employment, also in the wider region around the Research Park. As a municipality, we can only welcome that."
The construction and development of Nexus will be carried out by Ghelamco.
Michael Gheysens, Managing Director Ghelamco Belgium: "Green Energy Park offers us, as a Flemish and international company, a unique opportunity to pool and share knowledge together with its forerunners VUB and UZ Brussel. This close collaboration is a lever towards sustainable growth and transition of the science and innovation park of which the Uptime Institute's Tier III Nexus data centre will undoubtedly become an important cornerstone."
Jimmy Van Moer, General Manager Green Energy Park vzwl: "Today we are taking another step towards the realisation of our dream. Everyone can follow the evolution of the construction virtually via the QR code and website (www.nexus-datacenter.be) we are making available here."
Contact Green Energy Park vzw
Jimmy Van Moer, General Manager, Jimmy.vanmoer@greenenergypark.be, +32 (0)495/36 07 53
Green Energy Park vzw
Green Energy Park vzw was founded in a collaboration between Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel.
As a strategic Living Lab Centre, located in the Research Park of Zellik, Green Energy Park vzw stimulates cooperation between companies, knowledge institutions, authorities and end users by offering them unique living labs where they can test and refine their innovative developments in a realistic environment. With these living labs and its knowledge, expertise and training centre, Green Energy Park vzw aims to form the bridge between research and the economy.
Green Energy Park vzw puts its focus in four domains: "Energy and mobility", "Smart regions", "Hospital of the future" and "Biotechnology".
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel is an internationally oriented university in Brussels, the heart of Europe. By providing excellent research and education on a human scale, VUB wants to make an active and committed contribution to a better society.
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel is a university hospital with more than 4,100 employees. It is attached to the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Vrije Universiteit Brussel on the Brussels Health Campus in Jette. With 721 hospital beds, it accounts for 30,779 domestic and international patient admissions, 412,246 consultations (excluding emergency) and 78,840 patients in A&E each year. Its philosophy is based on three principles: Dutch-speaking, pluralistic and social. As a university hospital, it also has a teaching mission and conducts scientific research.
Ghelamco
Ghelamco is a leading international real estate investor and developer that is unwavering in its mission to achieve greener, smarter and more efficient projects. Ghelamco’s vision is to create smart cities that unleash a positive human energy.
Ghelamco's urban mixed-use real estate projects are located in visible and strategic locations and consist mainly of offices, residences, life sciences, retail and leisure.
Ghelamco applies the highest standards for its projects, always looking to make its projects more sustainable, smart and user-friendly. In this way, Ghelamco achieves a perfect symbiosis between sustainability, aesthetics, technical excellence and commercial success.
Through its international presence and unparalleled track record of growth over the past three decades, Ghelamco is highly recognized by its peers for its top-quality projects and pioneering work in the creation of sustainable, energy neutral concepts. Ghelamco is meeting the highest ecological standards across their entire portfolio.