Instructions for sustainable data center construction

A sustainable data center is more than just an energy-efficient building. It affects the electricity system, the surrounding natural environment, carbon emissions, the regional economy and the everyday lives of local communities. In Finland, energy and water management solutions are already highly advanced, so the differences between projects arise elsewhere.

Managing biodiversity impacts and emissions from construction is still partly new to the industry. Local acceptance depends on how much of the investment benefits the region through employment, tax revenue and expertise.

Granlund’s new expert publication, Sustainable Data Centers in Finland, brings together guidelines for sustainable data center construction in Finnish conditions. The publication covers four themes: energy, biodiversity and emissions, regional economic impacts and project management. Each chapter concludes with recommendations on how to improve the sustainability of data center projects.

“As more and more data centers are being built in Finland, we felt there was a need for an expert publication on sustainable construction. With this white paper, we want to help international data center operators understand Finnish construction practices while also providing Finnish stakeholders with information about data center construction,” says Tytti Bruce-Hyrkäs, Business Director, Consulting and Sustainability at Granlund.

The publication covers four themes: energy, biodiversity and emissions, regional economic impacts and project management. Each chapter concludes with recommendations on how to improve the sustainability of data center projects.

Favourable conditions alone do not make a project sustainable

Finland offers exceptionally favourable conditions for data center construction. The cool climate reduces the need for cooling, electricity generation is low-carbon, and district heating networks are widely available. Finnish data centers therefore consume less electricity and significantly less water than their European counterparts.

However, national averages do not tell the whole story of an individual project. For example, only seven per cent of waste heat is recovered and utilised on average in Finland.

“What sets the best projects apart is the choices made along the way: where the data center is located, how electricity is sourced, how the building is designed and which suppliers are selected,” says Jari Innanen, Vice President, Data Centers at Granlund.

Cutting corners on sustainability comes at a cost

A sustainable data center is developed step by step. The location determines much of the project’s impact on biodiversity and whether there is a potential buyer for waste heat. The electricity procurement model determines whether the project brings new generation capacity to the grid or competes for existing supply.

During the design phase, decisions are made about the embodied carbon of the building’s structural frame. Procurement determines how much of the economic benefit stays in the region, while the construction phase determines how well the sustainability objectives are put into practice.

Many international operators have well-established sustainability processes, but these need to be adapted to Finnish conditions. In Finland, it is important to address key issues such as biodiversity impacts and the expectations of local communities.

Tytti Bruce-Hyrkäs, Business Director, Granlund Oy

Together, these decisions affect not only the project’s acceptance but also its progress.

“Many international operators have well-established sustainability processes, but these need to be adapted to Finnish conditions. In Finland, it is important to address key issues such as biodiversity impacts and the expectations of local communities. These local considerations should be taken into account before project plans are finalised,” explains Tytti Bruce-Hyrkäs, Business Director, Consulting and Sustainability at Granlund.

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