The revolutionary D4 Datacenter by Infomaniak is pushing the boundaries of technological innovation and sustainability. Located in a residential area in Geneva, it utilizes 100% of the consumed local renewable energy, without impacting the cityscape. With a capacity of 1.7 MW, the datacenter supplies heat to the cantonal district heating network, which is sufficient to heat 6000 households annually or allow 20,000 people to shower for 5 minutes daily.
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New Generation of Datacenters Honored for Ethical and Sustainable Innovation
This new generation of data centers has already been recognized with the Swiss Ethics Award and the Sustainable Development Award from the Canton of Geneva. It is available as open source, allowing for large-scale replication and implementation.
Infomaniak’s New Datacenter Sets New Standards for Energy Efficiency
The new Datacenter by Infomaniak, officially inaugurated yesterday in the presence of authorities and key stakeholders, is a groundbreaking technology that sets new standards for ecological consciousness and energy utilization, surpassing comparable infrastructures. Since November 11, 2024, all the electricity consumed by this Datacenter is converted into heat and fed into the district heating network of the Canton of Geneva. This milestone achievement signifies a significant contribution to the regional energy transition, establishing the Datacenter as an active participant in energy utilization.
Infomaniak’s New Datacenter Revolutionizes the Cloud Sector
The new Datacenter by Infomaniak tackles four major challenges in the cloud industry. Firstly, it reuses all the electricity consumed by the Datacenter to heat households through a district heating network. Secondly, it eliminates the need for water or additional air conditioning for cooling purposes. Moreover, being located under a residential area, it has no visual impact on the cityscape. This groundbreaking innovation leverages the electrical energy converted into heat in Datacenters, upgrading it by connecting it to district heating networks. As a result, the energy impact of Datacenters is reduced, actively contributing to the energy transition.
Infomaniak’s Innovative Datacenter System: Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Server Cooling
Infomaniak’s innovative system takes energy efficiency to the next level by converting all consumed electricity into heat and transferring it to a hot water circuit through an air-to-water heat exchanger. Heat pumps raise the water temperature and channel the data center’s waste heat into the district heating network. Additionally, the system recycles the extra energy needed to operate the heat pumps, as the cold produced during this process is used to cool the servers. This groundbreaking solution maximizes energy utilization while ensuring efficient server cooling.
Infomaniak’s New Datacenter: Heating Thousands of Homes with Renewable Energy
The new Infomaniak Datacenter, with its capacity to house approximately 10,000 servers on a 1,800 m2 area, is poised to be a game-changer. Its impressive power of 1.7 MW not only provides heat to the district’s heating network but also has the potential to heat 6,000 households or enable 20,000 individuals to enjoy a 5-minute shower every day. This innovative approach significantly reduces the need for CO2-emitting fuels like natural gas or pellets, thereby contributing to a cleaner environment and improved air quality.
Infomaniak’s Cost-Neutral Approach to Waste Heat Reutilization
The reuse of waste heat is cost-neutral for Infomaniak. The total cost of the data center is 12 million Swiss francs, with 6 million Swiss francs advanced by the cloud provider for adaptation to the district heating network. Part of these costs is subsidized by the Energy Office of the Canton of Geneva and the district heating network operator, and the rest is gradually amortized through the heat generation by Infomaniak at cost price. The implementation of the project took a total of four and a half years, as a secure location near a district heating network had to be found and a contract had to be negotiated with the district heating network operator.
Infomaniak’s Datacenter: A Model for European Technological Independence
The Datacenter by Infomaniak strengthens Europe’s technological independence and provides added value for local businesses by exclusively using devices manufactured in Europe. The model of this Datacenter is replicable, and its know-how is freely available. It demonstrates to the cloud industry and policymakers that energy from data centers can be doubly utilized and that IT facilities should be regarded as actors in the energy transition.
Infomaniak actively seeks district heating networks for future data centers
Infomaniak is actively seeking district heating networks for its future data centers to support its growth. Currently, the company can supply 1.1 MW to a district heating network, and by 2028, a new data center with at least 3.3 MW will be needed to meet the increasing demand. Infomaniak sources its electricity locally and provides the CO2-free waste heat for free, making a sustainable contribution to society and driving the energy transition.
Infomaniak’s D4 Datacenter: Revolutionizing the Cloud Sector with Sustainable Energy
The new D4 Datacenter by Infomaniak is revolutionizing the industry with its technological innovation and commitment to sustainability. By repurposing 100% of the consumed electricity to heat households through a district heating network, it actively contributes to the energy transition. Its efficient energy utilization and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions make it a leader in the cloud industry. Infomaniak also makes the model available as an open source, enabling large-scale replication and fostering sustainable development.