From Bytes to Bites: Scandinavian Firms Transform Data Center Heat into Sustainable Food

In an innovative collaboration, two Swedish companies, the financial services provider Vinga Group and the circular economy specialists WA3RM, are embarking on an exciting venture to establish three state-of-the-art commercial greenhouses in the Nordic region. These ambitious projects will take root in Verde, Denmark, and Östersund, Sweden, strategically positioned adjacent to data centres to capitalise on their waste heat.

At the heart of the Verde initiative is a data centre designated as DEN02, which boasts an impressive initial capacity of 250 MW. This facility will not only generate significant amounts of data but will also channel its excess heat into what WA3RM describes as a cutting-edge greenhouse designed for vegetable cultivation. Together, this formidable duo of the data centre and greenhouse will span an extensive 174 hectares, transforming waste energy into a source of nourishment.

In Östersund, the project is a collaborative effort involving local partners, including the power company Jämtkraft, EcoDataCentre, and the local council. Although specific production goals have yet to be defined, the team is exploring various options, including the cultivation of vegetables, aquaculture, and the generation of biofuels, all aimed at contributing to a sustainable future.

The third greenhouse project promises to revolutionise tomato production by leveraging waste heat from a nearby cardboard factory. With the first greenhouse now completed, it is anticipated to yield an astounding 8,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually—accounting for roughly one out of every ten tomatoes consumed in Sweden. The entire initiative is backed by a robust financing framework amounting to up to SEK 11.5 billion, equivalent to approximately USD 908 million, underscoring the extensive investment in this sustainable endeavour.