Modern data centers consume a lot of energy, have a lot of information, produce complex calculations and, of course, require very powerful cooling system to maintain stable operation of the systems. In this regard, it seems quite logical that the decision to install computers in cold regions. That is exactly what is judged by the company Kolos, which plans to build the world’s largest center of data storage and processing in the North of Norway.
The cold climate of these places will allow you to create extremely efficient cooling system, and a variety of renewable energy sources in the area will give the opportunity to solve the problem of energy supply. Representatives of the company Kolos report that all the energy required for the functioning of the information of the data center, will be produced by wind and is located on the nearby rivers hydropower. According to experts, the construction will require about 1,000 megawatts of energy per month, but the cold climate of the Arctic will reduce this figure to 60%.
Designers Kolos together with the architects from the Norwegian firm HDR has prepared a preliminary draft of the future building. In the near future it is planned to approve the plan of the building, all infrastructure, support facilities and begin construction. According to preliminary estimates, these works will require the participation of about 3,000 workers and its construction will take several years.
It should be noted that the use of “natural” methods of cooling is not a new invention. Some time ago Microsoft was planning to create a similar “camouflages” data center, lowering it into the cold water of the sea. However, this project failed. The Norwegians still can happen as the climate over the edge of the Arctic circle creates quite favorable conditions for construction. Place the new data center located on the shore of the lake near the town of Ballangen.
Norway will build the world’s largest data center in the Arctic circle
Vladimir Kuznetsov