Oman can learn from Dutch floating data centres

The Netherlands has launched an unusual experiment in sustainable technology — floating data centres placed directly in city canals. These facilities use the naturally cool canal water for server cooling, eliminating the need for energy-hungry air conditioning systems. Water circulates through cooling panels, absorbs heat from the servers and is then returned to the canal to cool naturally, creating a closed, low-impact cycle.

The approach reflects a growing recognition that data infrastructure — the unseen backbone of the digital economy — must be made more energy-efficient. With global demand for cloud storage, artificial intelligence and 5G networks expanding, the energy footprint of data centres has become a pressing concern. According to the International Energy Agency, data centres already consume nearly 1% of total global electricity, a figure that could climb sharply in the coming decade. Traditional cooling, which relies heavily on air conditioning, remains one of the most energy-intensive aspects of operations.

In Amsterdam, where waterways are an integral part of the city’s identity, the floating data centre concept achieves two goals at once: reducing emissions while blending into the urban landscape. Modular and flexible in design, these centres can be scaled up or down depending on demand; and when powered by renewable energy, they operate with a fraction of the carbon footprint of conventional facilities.

For Oman, the relevance lies in the parallel challenge of balancing rapid digital growth with environmental sustainability. The Sultanate of Oman has invested heavily in expanding its information and communications technology (ICT) sector, which was valued at $5.96 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $9.11 billion by 2030 (Mordor Intelligence, 2025). Alongside this, the local data centre market was worth $247 million in 2022, with forecasts suggesting it will grow to US $428 million by 2028 (GO-Globe, 2023). Investments such as Oman Data Park’s facilities in Muscat and Equinix’s MC1 hub have already positioned the country as a regional node for cloud and colocation services.

Yet Oman also faces distinct challenges. Cooling data centres in the desert climate is energy-intensive, driving up operational costs. Unlike the Netherlands, there are no urban canals to provide natural cooling and water scarcity adds another constraint. As the Sultanate of Oman embraces artificial intelligence, smart city solutions and cloud-based services, the demand for efficient, climate-resilient infrastructure will only grow.

This is where lessons from the Dutch model become relevant. While floating data centres may not suit Oman’s geography, the underlying principle — using natural systems to offset the environmental cost of digital growth — is transferable. Seawater cooling along coastal sites such as Al Duqm and Salalah, shaded reservoirs that combine solar power with evaporation-based cooling, or even underground aquifer-based designs could all be explored. Already, Oman Data Park has announced on-site solar integration, part of a broader energy diversification push.

The country’s renewable energy base is also expanding. Installed solar and wind capacity rose to 722 MW in 2023, up from 205 MW in 2021 (Mordor Intelligence, 2024), with a national target to meet 30% of electricity generation from renewables by 2030. At the same time, Oman’s overall power generation capacity is expected to rise from 16.36 GW in 2025 to 20.29 GW by 2030 (Mordor Intelligence, 2024). Linking this green energy expansion to the ICT sector could help Oman pioneer new approaches to sustainable data management in arid climates.

The Dutch experiment is not just about floating servers — it is about rethinking infrastructure for a low-carbon future. In Oman, where sustainability is increasingly tied to competitiveness under Oman Vision 2040, such global examples offer a reminder that the future of technology must also be the future of environmental responsibility. The lesson is clear: as the Sultanate of Oman builds the next generation of digital infrastructure, it must be designed not only for speed and scale but also for the climate realities of the 21st century.