atNorth’s expansion of its ICE03 data centre in Akureyri, Iceland topped the competition as a result of its design blueprint for data centre ecosystems that integrates environmental stewardship with social and economic impact, ensuring long-term, sustainable growth.
ICE03 already benefits from the naturally cool climate and an abundance of renewable energy that enables highly energy efficient Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC).
Additionally, the site was built using sustainable materials such as the laminated wood product Glulam (as an alternative to steel beams) and Icelandic rockwool in addition to a care for the surrounding natural landscape.
All atNorth’s new data centres are designed to accommodate heat reuse equipment as standard.
For ICE03, atNorth formed an alliance with the local municipality to reuse waste heat for community projects in Akureyri, including a community greenhouse that enables local school children to learn about ecological cultivation and sustainable food production. This partnership not only lowers the carbon footprint of the data centre but aims to promote the sustainability of locally produced fresh vegetables. It also allows atNorth clients to decarbonise their IT workloads and contributes to the region’s circular economy. With a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.2, compared to a global average of 1.56, the site is able to run high performance workloads in an environmentally responsible way.
“We are delighted that our ICE03 data centre has been recognised for its positive impact on its local environment” said Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO atNorth. “There is a critical need for a transformation in the approach to digital infrastructure development to ensure the scalability and longevity of the industry. Data centre operators must take a holistic approach to become long-term, valued partners of thriving communities.”
atNorth’s data centre design blueprint actively supports the local economies and the communities in which the company operates. During the first phase of development of ICE03, over 90 percent of the workforce were local to the area, and the business is committed to hiring locally where possible throughout the operational phase. The company also actively supports local education, charities, and community projects through volunteer work and financial donations.
Additionally, the presence of atNorth’s ICE03 data centre in Akureyri has facilitated a new point of presence (POP) in the area – that is a location where telecommunications networks interconnect to enable data transmission. The POP has been established by telecommunications business Farice, who operate 3 submarine cables connecting Iceland to mainland Europe. It will serve as an access point to the larger network and enable international traffic to be routed directly to mainland Europe, greatly enhancing telecommunications security and reliability of service for the benefit of the whole region.
According to Ásthildur Sturludóttir, the Mayor of Akureyri, atNorth’s total investments in the town will equate to approximately 109 million euros, with investments expected to reach approximately 200 million euros over time. atNorth hopes that its delivery of a ‘data centre ecosystem’, that not only benefits end users but also the local economy and community, will make its ICE03 expansion a true blueprint for data centres of the future.
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