atNorth's Innovative Heat Reuse Initiative
The innovative heat reuse initiative will channel excess heat from atNorth's DEN01 data center into district heating for Danish households.
Strategic Partnership with Vestforbrænding
atNorth, a leading Nordic high-density colocation and built-to-suit data center provider, has finalized its agreement with Vestforbrænding, Denmark's largest waste-to-energy company. This collaboration will utilize excess heat from atNorth's DEN01 data center campus to supply warm water for the district heating network.
About the DEN01 Data Center
DEN01, located in Ballerup, is a 22.5MW metro site that is set to be operational in Q1 2026. Through this partnership, warm water produced as a byproduct of energy-efficient Direct Liquid Cooling technology will be redirected to heat over 8,000 homes in the area starting in 2028. This approach significantly reduces the carbon footprint for both the data center and Vestforbrænding, minimizing the energy required for central heating.
Danish Leadership in Decarbonization
Danish authorities have been pioneers in the effort to decarbonize, recently announcing ambitious goals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. This initiative aligns perfectly with Denmark's ongoing strategies to phase out coal in district heating and promotes heat recycling that adheres to circular economy principles. atNorth's commitment to environmentally responsible operations is crucial to this initiative, embodying their vision of sustainable data center management.
The Role of Vestforbrænding
With years of experience in district heating, Vestforbrænding has introduced an ambitious District Heating Plan for 2030. This plan focuses on phasing out oil and gas boilers used in households and expanding the district heating network to incorporate heat from innovative energy sources like that produced by data centers.
Voices in the Industry
Steen Neuchs Vedel, CEO of Vestforbrænding, stated, "For many years, we have discussed surplus heat from data centers being integral to our future. Today, we demonstrate how this surplus can directly benefit households. Our contract signing illustrates a practical approach to sector coupling within district heating that benefits consumers."
Making Responsible Decisions in Data Center Operations
Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth, emphasized the significance of pursuing heat reuse partnerships. He stated, "As the demand for AI-ready digital infrastructure continues to grow, it’s essential for data center companies to scale responsibly. We strive to reduce our carbon impact, serve the local communities, and assist our clients in decarbonizing their IT workloads through innovative partnerships."
Future Collaborations and Projects
This heat reuse initiative follows atNorth's recent agreements with various organizations, including a collaboration with Wa3rm, a leader in circular and bio-based operations that aims to use excess heat to grow vegetables near atNorth's data center. Additionally, an agreement with Kesko Corporation is set to recycle heat from atNorth's FIN02 data center to maintain heating for local retail operations.
About atNorth
atNorth is a prominent Nordic data center company known for scalable high-density colocation solutions trusted by leading organizations. With sustainability at their core, all atNorth’s data centers operate on renewable energy and prioritize circular economy principles.
Headquarters and Future Plans
Headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, atNorth operates eight data centers throughout the Nordics, while a ninth site is under construction in Finland and a future site is planned in Denmark. The company has also secured land for a mega site in Sweden.
Contact Information
For further inquiries, please reach out to:
Caroline Brunton
Kite Hill PR for atNorth
+44 (0) 7796 274 416
caroline@kitehillpr.com
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the purpose of atNorth's partnership with Vestforbrænding?
This partnership allows atNorth to channel excess heat from their data center to provide district heating for local households, enhancing sustainability.
2. When is the DEN01 data center expected to become operational?
The DEN01 data center is set to be operational in Q1 2026.
3. How many homes will benefit from the district heating initiative?
Over 8,000 homes will receive heating from the warm water produced by the DEN01 data center.
4. What are Denmark's decarbonization goals?
Denmark aims to become net-zero by 2045, with significant emissions reductions targeted by 2050.
5. Where can I find more information about atNorth?
More information is available on their official website at atNorth.com.
