With Helen, data centers become carbon neutral
We are a partner to data centers, enabling carbon neutrality and reduced costs. In our energy platforms, heat is utilised for the heating of Helsinki.
Utilising waste heat
As a result of digitalisation and electrification, electricity consumption in data centres will increase significantly. At the same time, they have a huge need for cooling and a large amount of waste heat. Helen can recycle this waste heat and use it to heat Helsinki.
For data centres, this means lower cooling costs, better reliability and lower carbon dioxide emissions. One data centre can heat up to 20,000 apartments in Helsinki, thereby contributing to replacing the use of fossil fuels for energy.
Helen is one of the largest and oldest energy companies in Finland. Our history, spanning over a century, and involvement in various data centre projects guarantees that you get a reliable and stable partner. We are able to offer comprehensive energy solutions, including cooling solutions, waste heat recovery, carbon neutral electricity PPAs and consumption management and demand response services.
Five reasons to choose Helen’s heat recovery solution
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Energy cost savings
By utilising waste heat, data centres can reach a lower electricity tax category, which significantly reduces their operating costs. Thanks to the cool climate, free cooling functions as a free backup system. In addition, Helen offers a heat recovery and cooling system for the data centre. -
Genuine need for waste heat
Our location in the northernmost capital of continental Europe means a long heating season and a significant need for thermal energy. We can use up to 7 TWh of heating energy annually. In line with our goals, we completely phased out coal by 2025 and will stop all combustion by 2030, which means a growing need for other energy sources. -
Reduced carbon footprint
We enable carbon-neutral cooling and waste heat recovery of data centres on Helen’s energy platform. This allows data centres to support carbon neutrality goals and contribute to building a carbon-free and flexible energy future. -
A reliable partner
Helen is the world’s most reliable energy platform provider with over 100 years of experience. Our reliability is reflected in the fact that, on average, a thirty-minute power outage occurs in Helsinki once every 10 years. We have been involved in implementing several significant data centre projects in Helsinki and are enabling the improvement of the operational reliability of data centres with the help of an underground electricity network. Fibre connections can also utilise an extensive tunnel network. -
Central location in the capital
The central location of the data centre makes it possible to supply waste heat to the needs of the growing capital of Finland. Good connections and a skilled workforce make Helsinki a first-class location for data centres.
Waste heat recovery
1. Heat recovery from data centers
Data centers consume electricity, which produces heat. Helen makes it possible for all waste heat produced to be recovered and utilised.
2. Waste heat is transferred to the energy platform
On the energy platform, heat is transmitted onward from the data centers with the aid of heat pumps.
3. Waste heat is utilised
The heat collected from data centers heats the homes of Helsinki residents in a carbon-neutral way.
A stable society, modern infrastructure and top-class experts await in Helsinki
- Excellent location at the hub between Northern Europe and Asia
Helsinki is a significant geographical hub between Europe and Asia. Helsinki is also part of digital Central Europe; the undersea cable between Finland and Germany has a capacity of up to 144 Tbps. - Low operating costs and reliable electricity network
In Helsinki, data centres benefit from some of Europe’s lowest electricity costs and an extremely reliable electricity network. The electricity tax for heat-recovering data centres is only €0.5/MWh, and there is a large supply of carbon-neutral and renewable energy. In addition, Finland has a comprehensive 5G network and fibre connections are widely available. - Excellent foundation for new data centres
There are several predefined and affordable plots in Helsinki for the need of data centres, and we offer a variety of support and help for new data centres to penetrate the market. The society has developed digitally and the capital is full of skilled, trained professionals.
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Leader in data security
The Finnish Data Protection Act is stable and transparent. As a member state of the European Union, all data stored in Finland is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Finland is a pioneer in information security services and we have a strong concentration of more than one hundred data security companies.
Telia’s data centre heats homes in Helsinki
Telia Helsinki Data Center is the largest open data centre in the Nordic countries, designed from the outset with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind. Helen has been a partner in the centre’s energy affairs from the very beginning.
Up to 90% of the waste heat from the data centre is recovered and routed to the district heating network, producing the heat consumed by 14,000 two-room apartments in Helsinki. In the future, the number is expected to increase to 28,000 apartments.
Heat recovery options
Heat pump system with Helen's investment
Helen implements a heat recovery system for the data centre, which will be used for cooling the property. In return, Helen receives the waste heat into the district heating network.
Heat pump system with the data centre's investment
The data centre implements its own heat recovery system. Helen purchases the excess waste heat when it meets the requirements for energy used in the district heating network (temperature approx. 85°C).
District cooling
District cooling is suitable for data centres located in the area of the district cooling network. District cooling is used for both property cooling and waste heat recovery.
Our other compatible solutions for data centres
Carbon-free electricity
Reduce your data centre’s carbon footprint even further with zero-carbon electricity. We offer our own wind power based on actual production under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and certified wind power with guarantees of origin, which is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified wind power produced in the Nordic countries or Northern Europe.
Smart energy management and optimisation
With Helen’s smart energy management and optimisation, the data centre can take full advantage of Helen’s portfolio and benefit from the opportunities provided by the electricity market. In addition, we offer a demand response service for electricity consumption, allowing a data centre to earn significant income by participating in maintaining the operational reliability of the main grid by fine-tuning its electricity consumption.
Contact us
Would you like to hear more about our solutions for data centers? Together we will find a solution tailored to your individual needs.
Contact details
Henrietta Lahti, Business Lead
Phone: +358403361331
Email: henrietta.lahti@helen.fi
Johannes Niittyniemi, Project Development Manager, data centers waste heat solutions
Phone: +358400408543
Email: johannes.niittyniemi@helen.fi
Miika Lindholm, Head of data centers waste heat solutions
Phone: +358504340180
Email: miika.lindholm@helen.fi