atNorth Launches Data Center Waste Heat Reuse Project for Kesko Store in Finland
March 26, 2026
Nordic colocation specialist atNorth has commenced operations of a significant waste heat recovery initiative at its FIN02 data center in Espoo, Finland. The project involves delivering surplus heat generated by the facility to a nearby retail store operated by Finnish retail giant Kesko Corporation, marking a concrete step in integrating digital infrastructure with local community energy systems.
The system captures excess thermal energy from the data center's operations and redirects it to fulfill the heating needs of the adjacent Kesko property. This arrangement, established under an agreement signed in April 2025, is projected to cover nearly all of the store's heating requirements. By utilizing this recycled heat, the store will substantially reduce its dependence on the conventional district heating network, leading to lower operational emissions.
According to Kesko, the annual emissions reduction is estimated at approximately 200 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. While this figure represents a portion of the company's total heating-related emissions, it aligns with a key decarbonization priority. "Reducing emissions from the heating of our properties is a key priority within our sustainability strategy," said Antti Kokkonen, director of Energy at Kesko. "Through this collaboration with atNorth, we are able to significantly cut emissions at one of our stores while demonstrating how innovative partnerships can accelerate the transition to lower-carbon operations."
For atNorth, the project exemplifies a responsible scaling model for the data center industry amid soaring demand for AI-ready infrastructure. "As demand for AI-ready digital infrastructure continues to grow, it is essential that data centers scale responsibly," stated Erling Gudmundsson, COO of atNorth. "This project demonstrates how data centers can become active contributors to local energy systems. By recycling excess heat, we can reduce our clients’ environmental footprint while supporting our partners’ sustainability goals and delivering tangible benefits to the surrounding community."
The Espoo project is part of a broader strategic push by atNorth to implement waste heat reuse across the Nordic region, where extensive district heating networks provide a ready pathway for such integration. Notable previous agreements include a partnership with Denmark's largest waste-to-energy company, Vestforbrænding, to supply heat from its DEN01 campus to Copenhagen's district heating network, and a collaboration with Icelandic AgTech startup Hringvarmi to repurpose heat from its ICE03 data center for agricultural production.
This sustainability-focused expansion occurs against the backdrop of a major ownership change. In February 2026, atNorth was acquired in a landmark $4.2 billion deal by digital infrastructure giant Equinix and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP). Under the transaction, CPP invested $1.6 billion for a 60 percent stake, with Equinix holding the remaining 40 percent, supported by a financing package from a consortium of European and Canadian lenders.
Source: datacenterdynamics
