Sustainable Infrastructure: Building Resilient, Low-Carbon Projects

atNorth data centre heat reuse powers Finnish store

atNorth, a Nordic high-density data centre provider, has begun supplying recycled heat from its FIN02 data centre in Espoo, Finland, to a nearby retail store operated by Kesko Corporation. The heat reuse system became operational in November 2025 and captures surplus heat generated by the data centre, using it to provide most of the heating required by the adjacent store. The approach reduces reliance on district heating and lowers emissions for both organisations. For Kesko, the initiative supports its target to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 58.8%. The recovered heat is expected to cut emissions linked to district heating by around 200 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year, representing approximately 0.9% of its district heating emissions. Antti Kokkonen, Director of Energy at Kesko, comments, “Reducing emissions from the heating of our properties is a key priority within our sustainability strategy. “Through this collaboration with atNorth, we are able to significantly cut emissions at one of our stores while demonstrating how innovative partnerships can accelerate the transition to lower-carbon operations.” Supporting local energy systems through heat reuse The project reflects a wider trend of integrating data centres into local energy systems by repurposing excess heat. By capturing waste heat, the FIN02 facility improves overall energy efficiency while contributing to Finland’s circular economy objectives. Erling Gudmundsson, COO of atNorth, notes, “As demand for AI-ready digital infrastructure continues to grow, it is essential that data centres scale responsibly. “This project demonstrates how data centres can become active contributors to local energy systems. By recycling excess heat, we can reduce our client’s environmental footprint while supporting our partners’ sustainability goals and delivering tangible benefits to the surrounding community.” The FIN02 site forms part of atNorth’s wider Nordic expansion strategy. The company is also involved in similar heat reuse projects, including a greenhouse development in Iceland and partnerships with Vestforbrænding in Denmark and Stockholm Exergi in Sweden to supply district heating networks. For more from atNorth, click here.

Legrand's UPS wins Data Centre World award

French multinational infrastructure products manufacturer Legrand’s Keor FLEX modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) has won the Best Reuse or Recycling of Products, Energy, or Data Centre Infrastructure category at the Data Centre World Awards 2026. The award was presented during Data Centre World London, held on 4–5 March at ExCel London, and recognises projects and technologies that support resource reuse, waste reduction, and improved sustainability across the data centre sector. Keor FLEX was recognised for its modular architecture and design approach aimed at extending the operational lifespan of critical power infrastructure. Modular design focused on lifecycle extension Unlike traditional UPS systems that require replacement of the entire unit at the end of its lifecycle, the Keor FLEX system allows individual power or bypass modules to be replaced or refurbished independently. The system uses a hot-swappable modular design, allowing capacity to be expanded or maintained without taking the entire system offline. According to Legrand, the system achieves 98.6% efficiency in online double conversion mode and more than 99% efficiency in ECO mode. It also has an 85% recyclability rate under IEC/TR 62635, with more than 69% recyclable metal content and packaging that includes 50% recycled material. The UPS integrates silicon carbide technology and a low-impedance internal busbar architecture, designed to reduce thermal stress on components and extend the lifespan of power modules. Keor FLEX also supports a universal battery interface that allows existing VRLA, lithium-ion, or nickel-zinc battery systems to be retained during upgrades. Marc Marazzi, Vice President at Legrand Data Center Solutions Europe, says, “Data centres are under pressure to deliver more compute power while reducing environmental impact. “Keor FLEX proves that sustainability and performance are not mutually exclusive. By designing circularity into the core architecture, we’ve created a UPS platform that extends asset life, reduces waste, lowers energy consumption, and supports evolving AI workloads - all while improving total cost of ownership. This reflects Legrand’s broader sustainability commitments, including being awarded an ‘A’ rating by CDP for the second consecutive year.” The system is designed to scale from 100kW to 1.2MW per frame, with up to 4.8MW available in parallel configurations for larger data centre environments. For more from Legrand, click here.

Socomec launches energy audit initiative for UKI data centres

Socomec, a manufacturer of low voltage power management systems, has launched an energy audit programme for data centres in the UK and Ireland, aimed at helping operators measure energy use and meet reporting requirements under the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). Under EU EED rules, owners and operators of facilities with a capacity above 500kW must disclose their power usage effectiveness (PUE) and other environmental performance indicators each year. The next reporting deadline is 15 May 2026. The directive closely aligns with the UK’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and the ISO 50001 standard, which requires organisations to monitor and report energy consumption and power utilisation accurately. Improving PUE is also becoming an operational priority for data centres as electricity costs increase and workloads linked to artificial intelligence raise power demand. Socomec estimates that improving PUE by 0.1 - from 1.6 to 1.5, for example - can reduce annual energy consumption by around 6–8%. For a 2MW data centre, this could equate to more than £100,000 in yearly energy savings while also extending the lifespan of existing infrastructure. Energy infrastructure assessments for operators Data centre operators in the UK and Ireland can apply for an assessment of their energy infrastructure through the programme. Socomec’s engineers will carry out site inspections covering IT and non-IT loads, including UPS systems, server racks, cooling equipment, lighting, and switchgear. The aim is to determine PUE and identify gaps in existing metering capabilities. Participating facilities receive a report outlining energy efficiency measures, estimated cost savings, and potential return on investment. The findings are intended to support decision-making across sustainability, finance, and engineering teams. The audits are particularly relevant for older colocation data centres seeking to measure PUE at rack level using Measuring Instrument Directive-compliant metering. More detailed measurement can also allow operators to allocate energy costs more accurately between tenants. Colin Dean, Managing Director of Socomec, says, “The EU EED represents a gold standard for sustainable energy management and it’s only a matter of time before other countries follow Germany’s example and start penalising non-compliance. "In addition, there is a fear - particularly among legacy data centre operators - that a rip-and-replace approach is needed to achieve modern energy efficiency. At Socomec, our aim is to plug this gap with proactive and practical guidance, showing that metering can be retrofitted to improve efficiency without infrastructure overhaul or operational downtime. “Our energy audit is designed to help operators of mission-critical data centres take informed action towards sustainability while maximising their investments. With clear, accurate insights into PUE, data centres can turn energy data into action, optimise operational costs, and drive long-term resilience.”

atNorth confirms 'mega' 300MW data centre in Sweden

atNorth, a Nordic high-density data centre provider, has confirmed plans to develop a 300MW data centre in Sollefteå Municipality, Sweden. Located at Hamre Industrial Park in Långsele, the new site will be developed on a 50-hectare (202km²) plot (Hamre 1) and is expected to be operational in the first half of 2028. The industrial park is fully zoned for development, which the company says supports a shorter construction timeline as demand grows for AI and high-performance computing infrastructure. Renewable energy and heat reuse The site was selected for its grid capacity and access to renewable energy. The campus will follow atNorth’s modular design approach and is intended to support both colocation and built-to-suit deployments. The company states it will pursue heat reuse partnerships so that excess heat from the facility can be redirected for local use. Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO at atNorth, says, “We face a critical point in time right now, where we must balance unprecedented growth in high-density workloads with an increasingly urgent need for sustainable, scalable digital infrastructure. "Our Sollefteå campus represents a significant milestone for the company and demonstrates our commitment to building data centre ecosystems that deliver both technical excellence and long-term value for local communities.” The announcement follows recent expansion projects in Iceland and Stockholm. For more from atNorth, click here.

Vertiv launches UK UPS trade-in programme

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, has launched a UK-wide 'Power Swap' programme that allows organisations to replace older single-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems with newer models. The initiative includes collection, refurbishment, and recycling of legacy equipment to support compliance with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations and reduce electronic waste. The programme applies to single-phase UPS units up to 5kVA from any manufacturer. Participants receive a discount code for a replacement unit and can arrange free, on-site collection of the old system. Recycling and upgrade process Vertiv manages the process from registration to recycling. Businesses submit details of an existing UPS through a partner, receive approval, purchase a replacement unit, and schedule collection of the retired equipment. Eligible replacements include the Vertiv Edge, Vertiv Liebert GXT5, and Vertiv Liebert GXE UPS ranges. Stuart McDougall, Channel Marketing Specialist, Northern Europe at Vertiv, says, “While many UPS vendors offer recycling or limited trade-in options, the Vertiv Power Swap programme is designed specifically for the UK channel and single-phase UPS market, uniquely combining discount incentives and an efficient trade-in process. "The Vertiv Power Swap program helps our partners to reduce their carbon footprint. With the launch of this new initiative, we're supporting UK businesses to upgrade their power protection whilst decreasing their environmental impact." Martin Ryder, Channel Sales Director, Northern Europe at Vertiv, adds, “This program strengthens our commitment to the channel by providing partners with an opportunity for enhanced margins, and customers with reliable, innovative UPS technology. "The Power Swap Program makes it easier than ever to transition to high-efficiency solutions like the Vertiv Edge, Vertiv Liebert GXT5, and Vertiv Liebert GXE, enabling greater uptime and cost savings in today's demanding IT environments.” The programme is available to UK customers and partners until the end of 2026. For more from Vertiv, click here.

nLighten's Stuttgart data centre to reuse heat

European data centre operator nLighten's data centre in Stuttgart, Germany, is set to feed excess heat into the local heating network, supporting the municipal it.schule training centre and DEKRA buildings in the Möhringen district. To deliver the project, nLighten is partnering with Wärmelösungen Synergiepark Stuttgart, a joint venture between Stadtwerke Stuttgart and e-con AG. The companies have signed a cooperation agreement, with the scheme expected to go live later in 2026. It has received funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The recovered heat will be sold to Synergiepark Stuttgart, which will process and distribute it through an expanded heating network. The infrastructure is designed to deliver up to 1.8MW of heat output. Closed-loop system for heat recovery A closed-loop water system will capture heat from the data centre’s servers and heat pumps will raise the temperature to the level required by end users before distribution. nLighten states that the Stuttgart project follows a similar initiative in Eschborn and forms part of its wider approach to reducing emissions by combining renewable electricity use with heat reuse. Andreas Herden, Managing Director Germany at nLighten, comments, “The heat reuse project in Stuttgart is another milestone for nLighten and demonstrates how data centres can become active shapers of the energy transition. "Following our successful project in Eschborn, we are once again proving that Europe’s digital infrastructure can be designed not only to be powerful and connected, but also sustainable.” Ulf Hummel, Managing Director of Wärmelösungen Synergiepark Stuttgart, adds, “The excess heat project with nLighten creates an added value for everyone involved: it delivers climate-friendly heat for our customers, strengthens the data centre’s sustainable business model, and represents an important step towards decarbonising Stuttgart’s heat supply. "As a young company, Wärmelösungen Synergiepark Stuttgart set out to provide climate-neutral heat to the entire industrial area in Vaihingen and Möhringen. Connecting the data centre is the reward for the many years of planning.” For more from nLighten, click here.

BCS Consultancy launches Sustainable Development Service

BCS Consultancy, a global data centre consultancy, has launched a new Sustainable Development Service and appointed James Rogers Jones as Head of Sustainable Development. The new service formalises sustainability as a core element of BCS Consultancy’s project management, cost management, commercial advisory, and technical delivery work, rather than a standalone offering. The move reflects increasing client demand for advice that balances commercial delivery with environmental impact, community expectations, and long-term operational resilience. James joins BCS Consultancy with experience supporting major data centre operators, including Digital Realty, Google, GreenScale, and AtlasEdge. His work has focused on sustainability strategy, regulatory compliance, and operational performance across complex data centre portfolios. James comments, “Data centres underpin our modern economy and are one of the most impactful industries in the world. These assets can deliver enormous value to both clients and the communities they serve. "Sustainability should no longer be framed primarily around ESG-signalling or long-term carbon targets; instead, it is increasingly becoming linked to energy security, price stability, and operational resilience.” Responding to community and planning pressures The Sustainable Development Service will support clients with long-term decision-making, including data centre roadmaps, portfolio strategy, sustainability frameworks, and policy advisory. It is also intended to address growing development pressures, as community opposition and project cancellations increase across several data centre markets. BCS Consultancy points to findings from its forthcoming 2026 Data Centre Trends Report, which indicate that communities are seeking more than renewable energy commitments when considering data centre developments. Concerns increasingly relate to water usage, local electricity pricing, and wider quality of life impacts. The consultancy states that operators must demonstrate their role as responsible local stakeholders alongside meeting environmental targets. The launch of the service forms part of BCS Consultancy’s wider approach to supporting clients through continued growth in global digital infrastructure and increased demand driven by AI workloads. The consultancy positions sustainability as a contributor to long-term value for both clients and host communities. Chris Coward, Chief Operating Officer at BCS Consultancy, says, “Our clients are facing increasingly complex challenges from power constraints and planning risk to community scrutiny and long-term resilience. They need a simpler way to achieve their sustainability goals with project managers, cost managers, and technical experts who understand sustainability and can deliver outcomes as part of their day job. “The launch of our Sustainability Service is about delivering better outcomes and aligns with how our clients expect us to operate. James brings both credibility and clarity of thinking, and his appointment strengthens our ability to support responsible, long-term decision-making across the entire lifecycle.” For more from BCS Consultancy, click here.

Data centre waste heat could warm millions of UK homes

New analysis from EnergiRaven, a UK provider of energy management software, and Viegand Maagøe, a Danish sustainability and ESG consultancy, suggests that waste heat from the next generation of UK data centres could be used to heat more than 3.5 million homes by 2035, provided the necessary heat network infrastructure is developed. The research estimates that projected growth in data centres could generate enough recoverable heat to supply between 3.5 million and 6.3 million homes, depending on data centre design efficiency and other technical factors. The report argues that without investment in large-scale heat network infrastructure, much of this heat will be lost. The study highlights a risk that the UK will expand data centre and AI infrastructure without making use of the waste heat produced, missing an opportunity to reduce household energy costs and improve energy resilience. “Our national grid will be powering these data centres - it’s madness to invest in the additional power these facilities will need and waste so much of it as unused heat, driving up costs for taxpayers and bill payers,” argues Simon Kerr, Head of Heat Networks at EnergiRaven. “Microsoft has said it wants its data centres to be ‘good neighbours’ - giving heat back to their communities should be an obvious first step.” Regional opportunities and proximity to housing The research points to examples where data centres are located close to both new housing developments and areas affected by fuel poverty. Around Greater Manchester, for example, 15,000 homes are planned in the Victoria North development, with a further 14,000 to 20,000 planned in Adlington. The area also includes more than a dozen existing data centres, with additional facilities planned. According to the analysis, these sites could potentially supply heat to nearby new housing, reducing the need for individual gas boilers and supporting lower-carbon heating. Moreover, the study maps how similar patterns could be replicated across the UK, linking waste heat sources with residential demand through heat networks. Using waste heat for space heating is common in parts of northern Europe, particularly in Nordic countries. There, waste heat from sources such as data centres, power plants, incinerators, and sewage treatment facilities is often connected to district heat networks, supplying homes via heat interface units instead of individual boilers. In the UK, a number of cities have been designated as Heat Network Zones, where heat networks have been identified as a lower-cost, low-carbon heating option. From 2026, Ofgem will take over regulation of heat networks and new technical standards will be introduced through the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme, aimed at improving consumer and investor confidence. Heat networks, regulation, and policy context The Warm Homes Plan includes a target to double the proportion of heat demand met by heat networks in England to 7% by 2035, with longer-term ambitions for heat networks to supply around 20% of heat by 2050. The plan also includes funding support for heat network development. However, Simon argues that current policy does not fully reflect the scale of opportunity from large waste heat sources, continuing, “Current policy in the UK is nudging us towards a patchwork of small networks that might connect heat from a single source to a single housing development. If we continue down this road, we will end up with cherry-picking and small, private monopolies, rather than national infrastructure that can take advantage of the full scale of waste heat sources around the country. “We know that investment in heat networks and thermal infrastructure consistently drives bills down over time and delivers reliable carbon savings, but these projects require long-term finance. "Government-backed low-interest loans, pension fund investment, and institutions such as GB Energy all have a role to play in bridging this gap, as does proactivity from local governments, who can take vital first steps by joining forces to map out potential networks and start laying the groundwork with feasibility studies.” Peter Maagøe Petersen, Director and Partner at Viegand Maagøe, adds, “We should see waste heat as a national opportunity. In addition to heating homes, heat highways can also reduce strain on the electricity grid and act as a large thermal battery, allowing renewables to keep operating even when usage is low and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. "As this data shows, the UK has all the pieces it needs to start taking advantage of waste heat - it just needs to join them together. With denser cities than its Nordic neighbours and a wealth of waste heat on the horizon, the UK is a fantastic place for heat networks. It needs to start focusing on heat as much as it does electricity - not just for lower bills, but for future jobs and energy security.”

RWE sustainably powers Global Switch’s London DC

RWE, a German renewable energy company, has signed an eight-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Global Switch, an owner, operator, and developer of data centres in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Under the terms of the agreement, Global Switch will source electricity produced from RWE’s Brechfa Forest West onshore wind farm to power its data centre in the heart of London’s Docklands. From January 2026 until 2033, RWE will supply a total of 70 gigawatt hours of clean electricity per year. The Brechfa Forest West onshore wind farm is located in southwest Wales and was commissioned in 2018. It comprises 28 turbines and has a generation capacity of 57.4 megawatts. Ulf Kerstin, Chief Commercial Officer at RWE Supply & Trading, notes, “In view of the ongoing digitalisation and the increasing use of artificial intelligence in almost all areas of life, the number of data centres and their energy requirements are growing. "Some data centre operators are already relying on the use of low-carbon electricity from RWE, and we are delighted to have gained Global Switch as another partner.” Peter Domeney, COO at Global Switch, comments, “Our agreement with RWE is a critical next step on our journey to purchasing 100% renewable energy by 2030 and to the setting of new standards for what a sustainable, environmentally-conscious data centre can look like. "It’s an agreement that brings together the forests of Wales and the most powerful, most advanced AI and high-performance compute deployments in the world.” Wind power from Wales to London Global Switch’s London data centre, set to benefit from this agreement, is located in the heart of the city’s business district, with access to 224 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) - or approximately 224 MW - of secured power and currently undergoing a programme of densification and expansion. Last year, it was selected by CoreWeave to host one of Europe’s largest deployments of NVIDIA H100 and H200 GPUs, as well as being the site of the company’s liquid cooling showcase - a presentation of the latest liquid cooling technologies, some of which had never before been deployed in Europe. Global Switch is targeting 100% renewable energy by 2030, and annualised power usage efficiency (PUE) of 1.2 across its European sites. In 2025, its emissions reduction targets were approved by the Science Based Targets initiative and its sites were inducted into the voluntary European Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centres initiative. RWE says it is investing billions of euros in expanding its generation portfolio, particularly in offshore and onshore wind, solar energy, and battery storage. This is complemented by its global energy trading business. The company says that, thanks to its "integrated portfolio of renewables, battery storage, and flexible generation, [it] is well positioned to meet the growing global demand for electricity," which is being driven by the increasing use of artificial intelligence and further electrification.

Huber+Suhner expands sustainable packaging drive

Huber+Suhner, a Swiss fibre optic cable manufacturer, has broadened the use of recycled and recyclable packaging across its fibre optic portfolio as part of its ongoing sustainability programme. The company has removed more than 743,000 single-use plastic bags, substituted approximately 1.5 million cable ties, and replaced 35,500 blister packages with recycled polyethylene terephthalate. 11 product families are now covered by the initiative. Lana Ollier, Head of Global Sustainability at Huber+Suhner, says, “Removing single-use plastic items and moving more product families to recyclable and sustainable materials show what’s possible when sustainability is designed in, not added on.” Less waste and lower packaging emissions The measures include FSC-certified, recyclable paper packaging for connector and cable assemblies, and recycled PET for fibre modules including LISA, SYLFA HD, and IANOS. Huber+Suhner reports improvements in handling, dust protection, and transport weight. Verified lifecycle assessments indicate that blister packaging emissions have been reduced by around 50% for selected modules when compared with traditional plastics. The changes are intended to cut on-site material waste and ease installation through simplified paper formats and stackable blister trays. Following positive feedback, the company says its sustainable packaging approach will extend to 17 fibre optic product families during 2026. For more from Huber+Suhner, click here.