The computer giant Microsoft announced on Thursday the creation of a new data center in the Finnish capital, whose waste heat will be used to heat homes and businesses in the region. For what is presented by the American juggernaut as the largest waste heat recycling center in the world, Microsoft will collaborate with the Finnish electricity company Fortum. Its current district heating infrastructure includes a network of 900 kilometers of underground pipes that transfer heat to a quarter of a million homes in the greater Helsinki area.
“The location of the data center region was chosen with consideration for waste heat recycling,” the companies said in a joint statement, adding that the project will reduce annual CO2 emissions by around 400,000 tonnes. According to Fortum CEO Markus Rauramo, the project is an “important step for a cleaner world, made possible by our shared ambition to mitigate climate change”.
A (very) big investment
Microsoft Finland said construction of the center would begin “as soon as possible”, once the required permits are in place. Regarding the total bill for the project, it would be “the biggest investment in ICT (Internet and communication technologies) in Finland to date,” said a spokesperson for the Pekka Isosomppi group. Around 45% of Finnish homes are heated by district heating systems, which transfer heat by pumping water through insulated pipes. The share of waste heat used to power these systems is increasing as companies seek more sustainable energy sources.
Heat from the data center will account for around 40% of district heating in the districts of Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi, Fortum said. Finnish leaders have long sought to promote the Nordic country as a prime location for data centers, citing the economic advantages of its cold climate, relatively low energy prices and fast connections, as well as the sustainability possibilities of its district heating infrastructure.