Podcast: Greening data centers

The data center industry is known to be a power guzzler and is estimated to consume up to 2-3% of the world’s energy supply, although accurate estimates are hard to come by. How can data centers maximize sustainable performance and minimize environmental impact while providing enough capacity to meet rapidly growing global data demands?

While there are no linear formulas to address these challenges, there are many steps we can take together as an industry, and more importantly as people, to ensure that our actions are sustainable and considerate of our planet.

Using clean and renewable energy through highly efficient infrastructure is a great solution to reducing carbon pollution.

Stefanie Casall, our Director for Brand and Marketing, talks to Ciaran Flanagan, Global Head of Data Centers at Siemens, on the LCP Delta – Talking New Energy podcast, now available on Apple podcasts: Talking New Energy: Greening data centres on Apple Podcasts

Thank you for the invitation, the very interesting connections and talks.

AQ-OSL1: Pioneering sustainable AI infrastructure

AQ Compute launches maiden data center in Hønefoss, Norway, pioneering sustainable AI infrastructure
Partnership with NexGen Cloud marks milestone in decarbonizing the IT sector

We are proud to announce the completion of our first facility, AQ-OSL1, in Hønefoss near Oslo, Norway.

Our approach to data center design includes a strong focus on sustainability, with AQ-OSL1 carefully designed as an AI-enabled data center facility. The center’s infrastructure is designed to support the most demanding AI workloads while maintaining the highest standards for energy efficiency and environmental protection.

In a landmark partnership that signals our shared commitment to decarbonizing the IT sector, we have joined forces with NexGen Cloud, a pioneering provider of sustainable GPU Cloud and Infrastructure-as-a-Service solutions. Together, we are leading the transition to a net-zero AI supercloud by leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive innovation while minimizing carbon footprint.

NexGen Cloud’s choice of AQ-OSL1 highlights the data center’s capabilities with an initial allocation of 6 MW of AI capacity. This collaboration not only drives the development of AI infrastructure in Europe, but also sets a precedent for sustainable practices within the data center industry.

Henry Daunert, CEO of AQ Compute, expressed his excitement about the potential of the collaboration: “Our partnership with NexGen Cloud is an example of our shared vision of using technology for positive environmental impact. By combining our expertise in sustainable data center solutions with NexGen Cloud’s innovative AI capabilities, we are able to drive significant change in the IT landscape.”

The launch of AQ-OSL1 is an important milestone in our mission to pave the way to a greener and more sustainable future for the data center sector. With the increasing demand for AI computing, initiatives like this underline the importance of combining technological innovation with environmental responsibility to pave the way for a better and more sustainable future.

 

Please read the entire press release:

in English, in German, in Spanish, and in Norwegian.

 

Please read more about the news on NexGen Cloud’s website:

https://www.nexgencloud.com/news/nexgen-cloud-and-aq-compute-advance-towards-net-zero-ai-supercloud
https://www.hyperstack.cloud/blog/company-news/nexgen-cloud-and-aq-compute-advance-towards-net-zero-ai-supercloud

 

Download press images

 

Member of Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact

In a significant stride towards a sustainable future, AQ Compute proudly announces its membership in the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, a visionary commitment supported by the European Commission and Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal.

This pact, endorsed by over 100 data centre operators and trade associations, stands as a collective pledge to achieve climate neutrality by 2030, aligning with the broader goals of the European Green Deal aiming for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050.

 

Commitment to sustainability:
AQ Compute joins industry leaders in the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, solidifying its commitment to crucial areas such as:

Energy efficiency:

 

Clean energy:

 

Water conservation:

 

Circular economy:

 

Circular energy system:

 

Governance:

 

Take a look into the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact to see the pact operators involved in this transformative journey towards a sustainable future.

AQ Compute’s commitment to these actions signifies its dedication to leading sustainable data centre practices. By participating in the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, AQ Compute plays a pivotal role in shaping a resilient and environmentally responsible digital infrastructure for Europe’s future.

 

Membership with CleanHub

We are protecting our oceans from plastic waste.

We have one planet for all time. A planet growing more connected day by day. We have the responsibility to take care of it, for us and for future generations. Our higher goal is to protect our planet by taking action with our commitment towards green data centres.

We want to take care of people and the planet.
We are on a journey. This commitment towards cleaner oceans is one concrete step within our journey.

 

1) The CleanHub initiative is part of the ESG concept of AQ Compute

We aim to show loyalty to our planet. Our ESG strategy is mainly based on a path to reach Net Zero within the next years to tackle the main challenges that today’s world is facing around energy, emissions, water, and waste. Our holistic sustainability concept encompasses the sustainable life cycle of our data centres. We will prioritise waste reduction and are committed to using non scarce materials, such as rare earth metals, responsibly. To achieve this, we strive to maximise the utilisation of recycled and recyclable materials, and we will employ material passports to ensure traceability and accountability throughout our projects. Our goal is to minimise diversion rates and promote circularity in all our endeavors. Besides this, we also aim to address the social aspect, more specifically the “S” inside the ESG. We take responsibility for following aspects such as occupational health and safety, diversity and social commitment worldwide. We try to maximise positive effects for the society and environment.

 

2) We compensate for the plastic we use in our data centres.

It is all about awareness. We all need to act urgently.

… and we start with AQ-OSL1: our first data centre is going to be live at the beginning of 2024.
Our ESG strategy is mainly based on a path to reach Net Zero within the next years to tackle the main challenges that today’s world is facing around energy, emissions, water and waste.

On waste prevention: in our data centres, we are committed to minimising the amount of plastic used to the bare minimum and to recycling the plastic that cannot be avoided in our data centres.

 

Thank you CleanHub for your great work.
We are proud to be part of it.

For more information please visit our livetracker.
[Status: 09, 2023]

 

AQ-OSL1: advanced stages of construction

AQ Compute’s maiden facility, AQ-OSL1, is currently in the advanced stages of construction and is expected to be operational from the beginning of 2024.

Situated in Hønefoss, near Oslo and Norway’s largest international airport, AQ-OSL1 offers unparralelled accessiblity and boasts high power availability, confirming 25 MW of available power with ample and flexible room for expansion to suit client demands up to 40 MW.

AQ-OSL1 will open its doors initially with 5 MW of HPC-ready colocation space, supporting applications of over 100 KW per rack in an air cooled environment. AQ Compute is currently taking capacity reservations for the Hønefoss site.

Please contact us to register your interest and be part of the transition to a Net Zero industry.

 

 

New Sustainability and ESG forum at Platform Global

AQ Compute has been announced as Headline Partner for the new Sustainability and ESG Forum taking place at Platform Markets Group Platform Global in Antibes September 3-5, 2023.

With a razor-sharp focus on the key issues confronting digital infrastructure, digital resiliency and digital transformation journeys, the half-day event will be open to all interested delegates.

The event will seek to provide the route to Net Zero emissions in data centres, the enterprise quest for sustainability, policy and ESG. The event shall discuss how reasonable public policy can influence sustainability, an integrated approach to sustainability of end-to-end digital infrastructure and action now to mitigate carbon emissions in digital infrastructure.

“Our vision is to lead in decarbonising the colocation and data centre industry,” commented Henry Daunert, EVP, AQ Compute. “Our mission is to provide modular, carbon-neutral data centre capacities across Europe, powered by renewable energy sources, following green building standards, recovering and recycling the energy and compensating for each MW used with another MW of renewable energy – enabling our clients to reduce their carbon footprints.”

Based on feedback from 2022, delegates rated the Platform event and programme as exceptional with leading speakers, curated content as well as the enormous benefit of high-end networking. Delegates preferred this event too because of its ease of access among those attending enabling very specific targeting and hosted in the secluded and incomparable French Riviera resort of Antibes/Juan-les-Pins on the edge of the Mediterranean yet located only 23km from the facilities of Nice International Airport.

 

The registration is open: https://lnkd.in/erM4GVsC
We are looking forward to seeing you in Antibes.

ZDF Planet e. visit in Norway

planet e.: Energiefresser Cloud & Co.

We had the honor of a visit from the ZDF Planet e. team in Norway.

Video platforms, gaming, and cloud computing have huge and steadily growing energy requirements. The rise of digitisation poses a threat to climate protection efforts.
While it brings many benefits, it also threatens to become a brake on climate protection. We cannot afford to ignore the impact of data centres on our planet, especially as their energy demands continue to increase. Data centres have a responsibility to become greener in the future. We need to find innovative solutions to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure that they operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. At AQ Compute, we are committed to this cause and are constantly exploring new ways to make our data centres more energy-efficient. We believe that it is our responsibility to lead the way in creating a greener and more sustainable future for all.

Planet e.’ explores the question of how much cloud computing, streaming, and other digital activities contribute to climate change, and presents solutions for making them more environmentally friendly. We would like to express our appreciation to the team from ZDF Planet e. for visiting us in Norway. It was an honor to have the opportunity to share our vision and our progress with you.

If you are interested in learning more about the Norway trip of ZDF planet e. please visit:
[external link]

Energiefresser Cloud & Co. – makro vom 21.03.2023 – 3sat-Mediathek

planet e.: Energiefresser Cloud & Co. – ZDFmediathek

AQ Compute in a nutshell

Our newest clip about AQ Compute in a nutshell will give an overview of our green story, and our upcoming sites in Norway and Spain. Enjoy watching on YouTube or Vimeo. 

 

Our mission is to provide modular, carbon-neutral data centre capacities across Europe, powered by renewable energy sources, following green building standards and reusing the excess heat – enabling our clients to reduce their carbon footprints.

AQ-OSL1: The first facility is currently under construction, close to Oslo and Norway’s largest international airport.
The first phase of this facility will be 5 MW colocation, prepared for air cooling, with the potential to support high-density racks for HPC. The power supply potential is up to 40 MW in the site area.

AQ-BCN 1: our second facility is currently under construction in Barcelona, centrally located in a data centre hub (Parc de l’Alba) in the metropolitan area of Barcelona.
The data centre will be a 50 MW colocation facility, prepared with the potential to support high-density racks for HPC. Supplied with 100% renewable energy, the data centre will satisfy the needs of hyperscalers, large enterprises and other organisations that require extensive computing capacity.


Enjoy watching our clip on YouTube or Vimeo. 

New Years Message from Petter M. Tømmeraas

Happy New Year!

Our CEO Petter M. Tømmeraas has a New Year’s message for the start of 2023.

As we start a new year, we believe it’s important to remember the role that data centres play in our daily lives and the opportunity we have to make them more sustainable.

In 2023 we aim to contribute to Aquila Capital’s long standing sustainability strategy by putting people, planet at the core of what we do.

Our goal is to follow the UN Sustainable Development Goals in all our activities. 

We are looking forward to a productive and successful year ahead.

Enjoy watching!

 

 

 

Fusion Consulting partner of AQ Compute

Fusion Consulting is partnering with AQ Compute to provide individualised data integration, data analytics, and machine learning services using a colocation approach.

Two main requirements are particularly important for Fusion Consulting and its clients:
1. the criticality of data within the pharmaceutical environment
2. the sustainability of technology

“With AQ Compute, we found a partner with whom we do not have to worry about the product’s sustainability or the company’s environmental impact.” – Tony Bochmann, Director at Fusion Consulting.

Thanks for your trust, Fusion Consulting.
Looking forward to the next steps.

Please find the full story here.

 

Sustainable Development Goals

ⓒ 2023 AQ Compute Services Germany GmbH