atNorth and Calentix have signed a Project Development Agreement for heat reuse at atNorth's SWE04 data centre in Sollefteå.
Heat reuse has become a key opportunity for data centers to contribute to the communities around them. But making that opportunity work depends on decisions made well before heat becomes available. The partnership between Calentix – which develops investment-ready projects from data centre waste heat – and atNorth, at the SWE04 data center in Sollefteå, explores these factors and demonstrates how an innovative business model can help turn heat reuse opportunities into viable infrastructure projects in practice.
Dedicated partner
This is not atNorth's first heat reuse project. atNorth’s SWE01 site in Sweden repurposes surplus heat from the data center cooling process in collaboration with Stockholm Exergi, the local district heating provider to warm local homes and businesses – a similar partnership with Vestforbrænding in Denmark will deliver heat to over 8000 homes. Conversely, in Finland, collaboration with Kesko Corporation enables recovered heat to warm a neighboring store. atNorth’s newest initiative at its DEN02 campus extends this model further, with surplus heat that will power Selected Group’s greenhouse development – supporting low carbon, year round food production and strengthening Danish food security.
Building on this experience, atNorth decided to explore a new way of working, this time together with a partner dedicated – Calentix – to developing heat reuse projects and establishing an innovative business model as an independent heat producer.
At SWE04, an early feasibility study carried out in partnership with Calentix, confirmed that heat recovery is technically feasible and that there is local interest in exploring the opportunity further, including supplying heat to the nearby Långsele district heating network. atNorth and Calentix have now signed a Project Development Agreement, with Calentix leading the development of the potential heat recovery solution across technical, commercial and financial aspects. atNorth will provide access to the surplus heat from SWE04, together with site integration and the necessary infrastructure interfaces.
Different roles
atNorth's role in the collaboration is to make the surplus heat available, Calentix takes responsibility for developing and financing the project to recover and transport it to where it creates value. This allows each partner to focus on what they do best.
Calentix specializes in developing the technical and commercial framework necessary to connect the data center with district heating systems. It brings together the technical expertise, aligning all parties and supplying the financing needed to develop, build and operate heat recovery systems, creating a dedicated role as an independent heat producer placed between the data center and district heating operator.
For atNorth, considering heat reuse at an early stage is important, because it highlights the role a facility can play within its surrounding community and energy ecosystem. For Calentix, working with atNorth and the local district heating operator, Adven – two parties with experience of heat recovery – is an opportunity to further develop a scalable heat recovery solution that connects existing local infrastructure and respond to genuine local demand.
