The city of Helsinki is moving towards a more sustainable future by implementing an innovative energy recycling project in collaboration with Equinix, Inc. and Helen Ltd. From now on, the residual heat generated in Equinix’s HE5 Viikinmäki data center will be used to heat homes and businesses in the region.
This project aims to increase Helsinki’s energy self-sufficiency by providing heat to numerous homes and commercial properties, while also supporting Helen’s transition to carbon neutrality by 2030. The use of residual heat is a key strategy for gradually phasing out combustion-based energy production.
A step towards energy self-sufficiency
The collaboration between Equinix and Helen will allow the heat generated in the data center to meet the annual heating demand of up to 1,500 one-bedroom apartments in the Helsinki region. This initiative will not only improve the city’s energy efficiency, but also help reduce residents’ carbon footprint by avoiding the use of fossil fuels for heating.
Henrietta Lahti, leader of the data centers and residual heat recovery solutions area at Helen, emphasized the importance of such projects in the current context: “Recycling is a smart choice, even in energy use. Now, more than ever, it is important to invest in energy self-sufficiency and technologies that promote energy efficiency.”
How the project works
The implemented system uses heat pumps to capture the residual heat generated in Equinix’s data center. The pumps then raise the temperature of the recovered heat and transfer it to the district heating network, which distributes it to homes and businesses in the area. The heat export system was developed by the Finnish company Oilon, with a turnkey delivery.
Johannes Niittyniemi, project manager for heat recovery at Helen, noted the close collaboration between the different parties involved: “Our cooperation was smooth from the start. The modern infrastructure of Equinix’s data center, combined with Oilon’s heat pump expertise and our district heating solutions, ensures a functional and beneficial long-term solution for the residents of Helsinki.”
Equinix and its commitment to sustainability
Equinix has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability through this project. Noah Nkonge, leader of heat export at Equinix, commented that the collaboration with Helen will not only improve the data center’s energy efficiency, but also help reduce the company’s environmental impact. “We are proud to expand our partnership with Helen to heat over 1,000 homes in Viikinmäki. This initiative reduces the need to burn fossil fuels and, therefore, the community’s environmental impact,” Nkonge stated.
This project marks the second heat export agreement between Equinix and Helen in Finland, highlighting both companies’ commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting a greener future.
A decentralized, emissions-free system
Recovering residual heat is a key component in Helen’s transition to a decentralized energy system, where energy is generated, recovered, and stored in multiple locations using renewable and emission-free methods. This approach ensures supply security and supports the company’s carbon neutrality goals, while progressively phasing out combustion-based energy production.
About Equinix
Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) is the world’s leading digital infrastructure company. Its platform enables organizations to quickly and efficiently connect their essential infrastructure, driving their growth capacity and the development of digital services. Equinix also supports its customers’ sustainability goals, contributing to the transition to a greener future.
About Helen Ltd
Helen Ltd is a Finnish company that provides sustainable energy solutions to over 560,000 customers. With the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, Helen is committed to developing a smarter and more environmentally friendly energy system, promoting the efficient use of renewable and electric energy.