This post will commence our new blog series entitled ‘Datatopias’. The purpose of this wanderlust quenching, adventurer seeking series is to venture forth and explore data centers that have unique attributes, or are found in unique locations across the globe. I will be searching the World…Wide Web for the ‘Datatopias’ of the data center industry in hopes of finding the most intriguing and unique data centers provided by human ingenuity. Some of the data centers that we will be visiting will have already been in operation for several years, while others, may still be in the conceptual or design stages, waiting to be operational. Without further ado, here is the first installment of ‘Datatopias’.
Our first expedition lands us on the brisk shores of Norway’s Rennesøy Island, home to Green Mountain Data Center, which upon completion, is set to be the world’s greenest data center. The location of the data center, formerly an underground ammunition storage facility for NATO, is but one impressively unique characteristic among many. In addition to being situated within the confines of a mountain, Green Mountain Data Center supports its cooling from an adjacent fjord.
Outside of Green Mountain Data Center
The fjord provides Green Mountain Data Center with naturally cooled water (46 degrees Fahrenheit), which is optimal for use within data center cooling systems. The local fjord provides much of the energy saving costs for the data center. Where most data centers depend on energy demanding chillers, Green Mountain Data Center draws naturally cooled water from the nearby fjord, circumventing the need for energy intensive cooling equipment. The nearby fjord will reduce the data center’s operational costs by 30 percent. In addition, Green Mountain Data Center is said to have “no carbon footprint”.
Possible Future Server Room At Green Mountain Data Center
The first phase of the build-out will be designed for colocation space, and will include about 75,000 square feet of data center space. The second phase will add another 43,000 square feet, which will house data center container solutions. Currently, there are no clients within the mountain fortress, but the first clients are expected to be installed by late 2012.
For more information about Green Mountain Data Center click here!