Scandinavian Data Centers launches its first ecosystem site integrating energy storage, data center and heat recovery. Our goal is to accelerate the green transition and fostera more circular society.
– We aim to maximize societal benefit per megawatt by building an energy, data and heat ecosystem. Our first site now launching in Eskilstuna is an ecosystem where the energy isstored in batteries which stabilize the electrical grid, and residual heat from the data center is reused for the municipality's residents. With the growing energy needs of digitalization, we see our site in Eskilstuna as a model for how AI can be used to heat homes — a tangible example of our active contribution to sustainable development, says Svante Horn, CEO of Scandinavian Data Centers.
The data center is established in a spectacular underground facility that was used as an aircraft engine factory and testing facility during World War II. For the past fourteen years, a smaller data center has been operated in the facility by one of the largest Nordic IT companies. The planned expansion will significantly increase capacity and will include both traditional air-cooledand liquid-cooled data halls for higher IT loads.
The heat from the data center will be reused in the district heating system, contributing to cost-effectiveness and sustainability for the Eskilstuna municipality. The district heating networks capacityto absorb residual heat sets how Scandinavian Data Centers design’s its datacenters, making them unique in the industry.
Adjacent to the data center, the sister company Scandinavian Energy Centers operates an energy storage that support theelectrical grid locally and regionally and facilitate the integration ofrenewable energy production. The battery storage can also act as backup power for the data center when needed, to avoid using fossil alternatives like diesel generators.
Atea Sweden is one of the companies thatwill utilize the data center in its operational portfolio and is positive aboutthe sustainability aspects. Linus Wallin, CEO of Atea Sweden, comments:
– IT and innovative technologies have enormous potential to positively impact carbonfootprint, especially related to data centers. In this context, Scandinavian Data Centers has developed a solution that aligns with the societal impact weaim to contribute to.
Eskilstuna municipality is positive towards the establishment and its long-termimpact on the local community. Jimmy Jansson, Eskilstuna’s mayor, comments:
– This initiative strengthens Eskilstuna's position as Sweden's Environmental Best Municipality and a pioneer in sustainable development. Scandinavian Data Centers not only created job opportunities but also with innovative solutions for circularity and climate neutrality.
Scandinavian Data Centers takes a significant step towards its vision to establish innovative and sustainable ecosystems, both in Sweden and internationally. This initiative marks a milestone in their aim to set a new standard for circular sustainability within the data center industry.
