How can a Green Mountain Data Centre Support a Trout Farm?

Green Mountain and Hima Seafood have launched a heat‑reuse system in Rjukan, Norway, linking data centre operations with trout farming in a circular energy project. 

The Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance officiated the launch, highlighting the initiative as a practical example of sustainable industrial collaboration.

How the system works

Hima Seafood uses excess heat from Green Mountain’s data centre to warm water in its aquaculture systems. 

After heating the trout farm water, the cooled water returns to the data centre and is reintegrated into its cooling processes.

This closed‑loop energy system reduces energy consumption and environmental impact for both companies, demonstrating circular economy principles by showing how industrial excess energy can be captured and reused locally.

Construction and installation are complete and the system became operational in autumn of  2025. 

The first phase tests the heat‑reuse system at a capacity of up to 1.75MW while both companies conduct a joint feasibility study to build operational experience. 

Findings from this phase will inform a second stage, which aims to scale the system to 8MW.

Annar Bøhn, CEO of Hima Seafood, says: “Waste heat is only waste heat if it goes to waste. 

“By utilising excess heat from Green Mountain, we reduce our energy consumption, minimize our environmental footprint and strengthen the robustness of our operations. This is a clear win‑win solution.”

Integrating data centre heat into aquaculture offers a practical method to cut operational energy costs while supporting sustainable fish farming. 

By reusing energy that would otherwise be vented, both companies avoid additional carbon emissions and make efficient use of local resources.

Collaboration and circular economy benefits

Torkild Follaug, Sustainability Director at Green Mountain, says: “The collaboration between Green Mountain and Hima Seafood demonstrates how data centre and aquaculture industries can create tangible circular‑economy benefits, reduce their climate footprint and drive new value creation in rural regions – with Rjukan as an international showcase.”

The data centre provides predictable, year‑round heat, which supports stable water temperatures for the trout farm. 

In return, the farm’s cooled water reduces the data centre’s energy required for chillers, creating a bi‑directional energy exchange.

A model like this offers a blueprint for other regions where data centres coexist with industrial or agricultural facilities. 

By showing a practical approach to heat reuse, the project positions Rjukan as a demonstration site for sustainable operations that combine digital infrastructure with local industry.

Government and local support

The launch event took place at Hima Seafood’s facility and was attended by Minister Karianne Tung, Mayor of Tinn Municipality Kathrine Haatvedt and County Mayor of Telemark Sven Tore Løkslid.

Minister Karianne Oldernes Tung says: “Norway relies on a secure and robust digital infrastructure and data centres are a critical part of that foundation. 

“That is why the government wants data centres located in Norway, but we also expect the industry to contribute to a greener future. 

“Here in Rjukan, we see a strong collaboration between Green Mountain and Hima Seafood. 

“This is a perfect symbiosis between data centres and new industry and exactly the kind of partnership we want to see in more data centres.”

The minister frames the initiative as a template for sustainable data centre deployment, noting that industrial partnerships can amplify climate benefits and strengthen regional economies. 

Local authorities support the project because it combines digital infrastructure investment with new jobs and innovative energy management.

By turning surplus heat into a resource rather than a by‑product, the Rjukan project illustrates how circular energy systems can extend the value of digital infrastructure beyond IT operations. 

It offers a working example of sustainable practice for the global data centre sector and demonstrates how rural regions can host advanced facilities that generate local industrial benefits.