“ DATA CENTRES CAN ALSO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO RESILIENT LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ECONOMY TOO.
E D I T O R ' S Q U E S T I O N
ANNA KRISTÍN PÁLSDÓTTIR, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, ATNORTH
As demand for AI and other high-performance computing accelerates, the data centre industry is expanding rapidly. At the same time, evolving ESG legislation and client expectations are pushing data centre operators to demonstrate stronger sustainability credentials. Operators now face a critical challenge: how to grow responsibly while supporting the environment and reassuring local communities.
Sustainable design and environmentally conscious construction are fundamental,
“ DATA CENTRES CAN ALSO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO RESILIENT LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ECONOMY TOO.
but data centres can also actively contribute to resilient local infrastructure and the economy too. atNorth believes that the creation of data centre‘ ecosystems’ will be key to the future evolution of the data centre industry as a whole.
The presence of data centres often spurs investment in power and connectivity networks that benefit the wider community. Data centres can further help stabilise power grids by offering Fast Frequency Reserve( FFR) services or storing surplus energy in backup batteries to feed back into the grid during peak demand.
Heat reuse is another essential consideration. Modern data centres should be fitted with heat capture technology to repurpose excess heat from the infrastructure cooling process to meet local needs – such as heating homes, powering greenhouses, or supporting community facilities like swimming pools.
atNorth has partnered with several businesses in the vicinity of some of its Nordic campuses to utilise recycled heat. With local agriculture constrained due to climatic conditions, two data centres supply heat to local greenhouses, enabling fresh vegetable production. A further site heats its neighboring Kesko superstore. These practices reduce both the carbon footprint of the data centres and the partnership businesses alike.
To further minimise environmental impact, atNorth advocates for the promotion of renewable energy
generation near data centre campuses, along with biodiversity and rewilding initiatives as part of land development.
Community integration is equally vital. Data centres generate long-term job opportunities during both construction and operation phases, and local hiring should be prioritised. Their presence also supports the growth of nearby businesses – restaurants, shops, hotels and services – and contributes to regional economic development.
Responsible operators can go further by investing in local education and skills training for data centre-related careers and supporting community programs and charitable initiatives.
With proper consideration given to environmental responsibility, energy efficiency and community integration, it is possible to create data centre ecosystems at the heart of the societies in which they operate – securing a sustainable future for our industry, for our local communities and our planet.
32 www. intelligentdatacentres. com