Datacentres are deeply unpopular. Has Sweden made one we can all love?
Summary
EcoDataCenter’s Falun facility in Sweden uses renewable electricity, a timber structure and waste heat recovery to reduce its environmental impact. Sweden’s low-carbon power, cool climate and reliable infrastructure make it easier to operate datacentres with lower emissions than in many other places.Key Facts
- The Falun facility has a capacity of 80 megawatts, roughly equivalent to the power use of 60,000 homes.
- EcoDataCenter says its electricity comes entirely from renewable sources: 75% hydroelectric power and 25% wind.
- The company says using cross-laminated timber cuts the structure’s embodied carbon by three times compared with a steel-and-concrete building.
- EcoDataCenter reports carbon usage effectiveness of 1.17 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour, compared with averages of 414 grams in the US and 263 grams in the EU.
- The facility’s reported power usage effectiveness is 1.15, compared with an EU average of 1.36; a score of 1 represents full efficiency.
- Sweden’s electricity supply is described as nearly carbon-free, with fossil fuels accounting for about 1% of its power mix.
- The article says Sweden’s cold climate reduces cooling needs, while available space, water and reliable power also support datacentre operations.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
