atNorth: Heat Reuse Powers Mega Data Centre in Denmark
Nordic colocation, high-performance computing and AI service provider atNorth has shared its plans to build the biggest data centre to date, in Ølgod, Denmark.
The DEN02 will be built to support colocation and build-to-suit projects, ideally for hyperscalers and businesses which run AI and High-Performance Computing workloads.
DEN02 is atNorth’s second data centre in Denmark. The DEN01 is based near Ballerup and will have a 30MW capacity when it opens in 2025.
atNorth partners with Wa3rm for heat recycling and renewable energy
atNorth is one of the leading data centres worldwide which is expanding its global data centre portfolio, especially across the Nordic region. atNorth is growing its operations in Finland in a strategy to meet the demand from hyperscalers for sustainable high performance infrastructure and technical excellence. The company currently operates two data centres in Finland and has two additional sites under construction, FIN02 in Helsinki and FIN04, a mega site in Kouvola. Earlier this year, atNorth was shortlisted for an award at the Electrical Review & Data Centre Review Awards.
The DEN02 campus is a 174-hectare greenfield site, located 40km west of Billund Airport. It will have an initial capacity of 250MW with the goal to power several hundred megawatts eventually. DEN02 will be built as part of atNorth’s modular approach to data centre construction. The site’s location offers top-tier connectivity owing to the trans-Atlantic fibre cables, which have landing stations on the nearby west coast of the country.
atNorth has signed a collaborative agreement with Wa3rm, a leader in the development of circular and bio-based operations for waste streams. This partnership will enable the recycling of excess heat from the new campus, for use in large scale greenhouses. The site will also provide heating and hot water for local communities via the district heating supplier.
By 2050, Denmark aims to be a low-carbon society and independent of fossil fuels. To keep in line with this goal, atNorth is aiming to utilise power production in the form of renewable energy farms close to the DEN02 site.
DEN02 and the circular economy partnerships
atNorth’s CEO, Eyjolfur Magnus Kristinsson shared that the DEN02 site is a blueprint for future data centres.
“The highly energy efficient design, including its state-of-the-art heat reuse technologies, coupled with the advantageous location in Denmark and our dedication to sustainability, exemplifies innovation in our industry,” he said. “It will be an ideal location for hyperscalers and AI businesses looking to decarbonise their high-performance workloads.”
Jacques Ejlerskov, CEO at Wa3rm, said that the company was delighted to partner with atNorth in a shared commitment to a circular economy.
“State-of-the-art data centres such as DEN02 have the ability to significantly contribute to increased circularity through re-use of resources such as excess heat and with atNorth we have found a partner that shares our vision of ‘bringing waste to life’.”
“Denmark presents an opportunity for businesses to flourish with its collaborative community that supports innovation, attracts talent and fosters a sustainable growth mindset,” added Vanessa Vega Saenz, Director of Invest in Denmark. “With its strong focus on sector integration atNorth can play a key role in the further development of sustainable hyperscale data centres.”
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