DigiPlex, a data centre provider in the Nordic region, and one of Norway’s largest district heating suppliers, Fortum Oslo Varme, have signed a letter of intent on the recovery of heat from DigiPlex’s data centre at Ulven in Oslo. The agreement contributes to new district heating production corresponding to the energy needs of approximately 5,000 Oslo apartments.
In Oslo, district heating is already sourced by renewable power. Owing to statutory phasing out of fossil energy sources for heating and urban development, demand for district heating is increasing. With Fortum Oslo Varme planning to increase heat production, the company has sought out sources of renewable energy that are suitable for production. Through planned increases in capacity at DigiPlex’ data centre, the volume of recovered heat supplied to the district heating system will increase.
CEO of DigiPlex, Gisle M. Eckhoff, commented: “Digitisation must move towards a greener world, and our cooperation with Fortum Oslo Varme is an important step in that direction. From autumn 2019, when end users in Norway browse the web, they will be indirectly contributing to the heating of apartments in Oslo.”
“The district heating system operated by Fortum Oslo Varme is a 60-mile thermal energy distribution system in Oslo and is a great tool for moving energy from areas with excess to where energy is needed. We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with DigiPlex,” says Eirik F. Tandberg, Managing Director of Fortum Oslo Varme.
“This type of third party delivery into the district heating network benefits both the environment and the city’s population. Fortum Oslo Varme is already recovering energy from the sewage of Oslo, and by recovering the surplus heat from data centres, we further increase the share of recovered heat in our production and strengthen Oslo’s cycle-based energy system,” continues Tandberg.
