Utilizing Surplus Data Centre Heat for District Heating: A Sustainable Collaboration

Summary:

• atNorth and Vestforbrænding partner to use excess heat from DEN01 data centre for district heating
• DEN01 site to reduce carbon footprints by integrating heat into local central heating network
• Danish firms leading the way in decarbonisation efforts through innovative heat recycling initiatives

Article:

atNorth, a leading Nordic colocation specialist, has joined forces with Vestforbrænding, Denmark’s largest waste-to-energy company, to harness surplus heat from their DEN01 data centre. This groundbreaking collaboration will see the by-product of energy-efficient Direct Liquid Cooling being channeled into the district heating network, benefiting over 8,000 households in the Ballerup area of Greater Copenhagen.

The DEN01 facility, boasting a substantial 22.5MW capacity, is scheduled to be operational by the first quarter of 2026, with the heat integration process set to commence in 2028. By utilizing this innovative approach, both the data centre and Vestforbrænding aim to decrease their carbon footprints by reducing the energy needed for local central heating.

Denmark has long been a pioneer in decarbonisation efforts. With ambitious targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 and a 110% reduction by 2050, the country’s commitment to sustainability is evident. The gradual phasing out of coal in the district heating sector reflects Denmark’s support for initiatives like heat recycling, aligning with circular economy principles.

Vestforbrænding, with its extensive experience in district heating, is on a mission to transform the sector. Their ambitious 2030 District Heating Plan aims to replace traditional oil and gas boilers with more sustainable solutions, including the integration of innovative energy sources like surplus data centre heat.

Steen Neuchs Vedel, CEO of Vestforbrænding, emphasized the importance of this partnership in ensuring surplus heat reaches households efficiently. This collaboration between data centres and district heating networks sets a precedent for sector coupling, encouraging others to follow suit.

Meanwhile, atNorth’s CEO, Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, highlighted the growing demand for AI-ready digital infrastructure and the responsibility of scaling sustainably. Through collaborations like this, atNorth aims to reduce environmental impacts, enhance community welfare, and assist clients in decarbonizing their IT operations.

This latest partnership follows previous successful engagements, including a collaboration with Wa3rm focused on circularity and bio-based waste solutions. Plans are also in place to utilize excess heat from atNorth’s DEN02 facility for vegetable cultivation. Additionally, atNorth has a partnership with Kesko Corporation in Finland, leveraging waste heat from FIN02 to heat nearby retail spaces.