Finns accept data centres when they deliver tangible benefits – especially heat for homes

The impacts of data centres have recently been widely discussed in public debate, with particular focus on their contribution to the national economy. However, the results of the study show that attitudes towards data centres become clearly more positive when their operations deliver concrete benefits to society.

Almost one in two respondents (49%) would accept data centres in their local area if they generated economic benefits for the region. Attitudes are especially positive towards the utilisation of waste heat from data centres: as many as 75 per cent of respondents said they view this positively. More than a quarter of respondents would accept data centres specifically on the condition that their waste heat is used in district heating.

“Data centre waste heat can be utilised most effectively when facilities are located close to the district heating network. By capturing and reusing this heat, it is possible to replace other forms of heat generation that increasingly rely on electricity.
When properly integrated, data centres can provide a reliable source of local, cost-competitive heat while helping to keep overall heating costs in check,” notes Tuukka Toivonen, Chief Operating Officer at Helen.

Overall, the results indicate that the social acceptability of data centres is not a given, but increases significantly when the benefits are realised locally.

“The study shows that data centres are more readily accepted when their benefits are visible at the local level. Jobs, tax revenues and other economic impacts that remain in the region strengthen the perception of data centres as part of local vitality,” Toivonen says.