Use Case - How Data Centers can Drive Sustainable Computing

Data centers have long been associated with high energy consumption, but as the industry adopts more sustainable practices, that perspective is starting to shift. To learn more about how this shift is occurring, Mouser Electronics talked with John Wernvik, Chief Sustainability and Marketing Officer at EcoDataCenter, who explained how the Sweden-based data center developer is setting the standard for environmental responsibility.
 
John Wernvik is the Chief Marketing Officer at EcoDataCenter, where he leads brand strategy, communications, and sustainability efforts. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, he has worked with some of Sweden’s most recognized brands, both as a client and agency leader. Previously, he held key roles at Le Bureau and Lantmännen. John studied at the Stockholm School of Economics Executive Education and specializes in strategic marketing and digital transformation.

EcoDataCenter’s sustainability model gives precedence to creating shared value for communities hosting its data centers.  This includes everything from heat reuse to the choice of construction materials and the use of renewable energy. For EcoDataCenter, sustainability is not just about energy efficiency but also about considering the entire value chain and the broader touchpoints where we can make a positive contribution. While EcoDataCenter does not supply hardware or software for their clients, they design sustainable infrastructure solutions to ensure that their systems run as efficiently, securely, and redundantly as possible.

Supporting Renewable Energy and Grid Flexibility

With Sweden’s abundant renewable energy, EcoDataCenter is well-positioned to operate sustainably. However, as Wernvik pointed out, sustainable operation is not just about consuming clean energy but also about how data centers interact with the grid. “Renewable energy sources like wind and solar may be intermittent, causing fluctuations in supply, and data centers can help stabilize this imbalance.” EcoDataCenter designs redundant systems to ensure high reliability for their clients and has a large battery capacity in case the grid fails. When the grid doesn’t have enough power, EcoDataCenter can discharge batteries to help maintain balance. This flexibility will be crucial in helping renewable energy production to expand.

Wernvik emphasized that EcoDataCenter’s approach is about extending the role of the data center beyond its traditional function, as he notes, “[We think] outside the boundaries of what data centers typically do and explore how our resources can benefit the wider energy ecosystem.”

Turning Excess Heat into a Resource

When it comes to managing data centers, Wernvik recognizes the well-known challenge posed by heat management, as data centers must keep servers and graphics processing units at 25°C for safe operation and peak performance. For EcoDataCenter, though, this challenge is also a key opportunity for the broader sustainability landscape. The engineering challenge is effectively managing and dissipating heat to maintain optimal temperatures. To achieve that, EcoDataCenter designed a dynamic cooling system that can use free air cooling—drawing in cold air from outside and surface water from nearby lakes—or energy-based cooling. By dynamically switching between these methods, EcoDataCenter optimizes cooling efficiency and minimizes energy consumption.

However, Wernvik told us that while cooling is vital, so is repurposing waste heat. Currently, EcoDataCenter is using some of the waste heat to dry wood pellets in nearby facilities. Drying improves combustion efficiency, reduces emissions, and enhances storage stability. Meanwhile, at their sites in Stockholm, EcoDataCenter contributes waste heat to district heating networks.

In the future, Wernvik believes even more applications for waste heat will be available. In his vision, advancements in liquid cooling and other technologies will mean that data centers produce heat at higher temperatures, which creates more opportunities for reusing that heat in ways that are economically viable. At EcoDataCenter, they are deploying the first liquid-cooled NVIDIA Blackwell cluster in Europe  and are testing to see how they can maximize the excess heat usage. The goal is to use the energy twice, making the entire system more efficient.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Energy Optimization 

With artificial intelligence (AI) making significant strides across industries, we asked Wernvik about applications making data centers more sustainable. As he discussed AI’s ability to further enhance the energy optimization that is core to their business, Wernvik explained its initial potential: “EcoDataCenter decided early to install optimization sensors, and now we are seeing some exciting AI solutions emerging. AI can help predict everything from temperature fluctuations to weather patterns around the data center. With accurate forecasts, we optimize cooling in advance rather than reacting to fluctuations.”

Wernvik also detailed other AI-based automation solutions. “Some interesting projects use AI to optimize airflow, from the fans in the servers all the way to the chillers on the roof,” he said. By building data centers that integrate these technologies, EcoDataCenter improves energy efficiency, reduces costs for clients, and boosts sustainability. These benefits feed into each other, since all three are inherently linked.

Harnessing Sustainable Fuel and Materials

At EcoDataCenter, sustainability extends beyond renewable energy to include the materials used in constructing data center infrastructure. They made a conscious decision to incorporate cross-laminated timber (CLT) into its structures, allowing them to reduce embodied carbon by 60 percent. This approach is becoming more widely adopted, with Microsoft recently announcing that it is building its first CLT-based data center. 

EcoDataCenter is continuously exploring ways to reduce their carbon footprint. For example, they switched from diesel power to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for their backup power engines. While it’s a bit more expensive, HVO enables them to cut 99 percent of the carbon from direct and indirect emissions. As Wernvik explained, “Everything comes down to a cost-benefit calculation, and we need to factor carbon into that equation actively. All of this is part of the bigger picture.”

Building a Sustainable, Circular Future

According to Wernvik, achieving sustainability in data centers requires a holistic approach to the entire value chain. Engineers need to look at what materials they can use and how they can incorporate more renewable energy sources. Some data centers are starting to build their own wind and solar farms and microgrid solutions, and Wernvik believes that will be a big next step for the industry.

However, Wernvik was keen to state that the real challenge lies in aligning all stakeholders within the value chain. Though getting everyone to prioritize the same targets is not always easy, it’s crucial to meet the growing demands for sustainable infrastructure. Despite these challenges, Wernvik is optimistic about the shift in awareness and a growing desire to work together toward common goals.

We closed by asking Wernvik about his vision for future data centers. Here is how he sees it: “Data centers are already the heart of society. If we can design them to work in balance with local communities, we can create a system where energy is used twice, and the data center becomes just a pass-through point. That’s my idea of a sustainable, circular future.”