atNorth, a leading Nordic provider of colocation, high-performance computing, and AI services, has announced a new heat reuse partnership with Finnish retail giant Kesko Corporation. This collaboration reflects atNorth’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and operational responsibility.
Through this partnership, waste heat generated from atNorth’s FIN02 data center in Sinimäki, Espoo, will be repurposed to heat the neighboring Kesko store. This initiative is expected to meet nearly all of the store's heating energy needs, directly contributing to Kesko’s goal of reducing scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 50%. A significant portion of these emissions originate from building heating.
The heat reuse strategy will not only increase atNorth’s energy efficiency but also cut down Kesko’s emissions from district heating, reducing the carbon footprint of both organizations and strengthening Finland’s circular economy model.
“One of the key goals of our ambitious sustainability strategy is to reduce CO2 emissions resulting from the heating of our properties,” said Antti Kokkonen, Director of Energy at Kesko. “Through our partnership with atNorth, emissions from district heating at this one site alone are reduced by 0.9%, saving approximately 200 tons of CO2 equivalent annually. That’s comparable to the yearly consumption of around 120 district-heated detached homes—making it one of our most impactful carbon reduction initiatives this year.”
In addition to the heat reuse partnership, atNorth has also secured an agreement with Finnish electricity distributor Caruna, ensuring a 45MW power supply for its FIN02 data center. This deal underpins Caruna’s efforts to enhance and modernize the local power grid, benefiting the entire Espoo region.
“Data centers play an important role in the long-term resilience of Finland’s power infrastructure and economic growth,” said Kosti Rautiainen, EVP Customers and New Ventures at Caruna. “atNorth’s investment in Espoo not only supports the move towards a carbon-free energy system through innovative heat reuse but also promotes local employment and community growth. We’re proud to contribute to this ecosystem.”
Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth, added, “We’re committed to creating sustainable data center ecosystems that positively impact the communities where we operate. Partnering with like-minded organizations like Kesko and Caruna allows us to reduce our carbon impact while supporting others in doing the same. Additionally, by investing in local power infrastructure, we help ensure long-term energy availability for the wider community.”
atNorth began its expansion into Finland in early 2023 with the acquisition of two data centers—FIN01 and FIN03—from Advania. These facilities are strategically located in Helsinki. The operational FIN02 facility in Espoo and the upcoming FIN04 mega site in Kouvola, expected to launch by the end of 2025, mark continued growth and investment in the region’s digital and energy infrastructure.