Green Mountain, a leading data center company, has officially handed over the first data center building at the OSL2-Hamar campus in Norway to the popular social media platform TikTok. This milestone marks the beginning of a new phase in the project, as TikTok will now commence the delivery, installation, and testing of servers and equipment within the data halls.
Delivery and Installation Process
With the transfer of ownership completed, TikTok will now work on delivering and installing the necessary servers and equipment in the data halls. This meticulous process ensures that the infrastructure is in place for the facility to function optimally and securely.
Expected go-live date
The highly anticipated 30MW data center facility is projected to go live in the second quarter of 2024. This ambitious timeline demonstrates the commitment of both Green Mountain and TikTok to effectively and efficiently bring this state-of-the-art data center online.
Future data centers on the campus
Excitingly, this is just the beginning for the OSL2-Hamar campus. Green Mountain plans to hand over two more 30MW data centers to TikTok in the coming months. With this expansion, the campus will become an even more robust and integrated hub for TikTok’s data storage needs.
Green Mountain’s environmental sustainability claim
One of the key highlights of the OSL2-Hamar campus is its strong focus on environmental sustainability. Green Mountain proudly asserts that this facility will be Europe’s largest data center powered by renewable energy. This commendable initiative aligns with TikTok’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and supporting sustainable practices.
Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)
Additionally, the site aims to achieve an impressive power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.2. PUE measures how efficiently a data center utilizes energy, with lower values indicating greater efficiency. Green Mountain’s dedication to achieving a low PUE demonstrates its commitment to energy conservation and responsible resource allocation.
Exploring Waste Heat Reuse
Green Mountain is not only focused on renewable energy but also on optimizing waste heat reuse. Recognizing the potential to leverage excess heat generated by the data center, the company is actively working with industry partners and researchers to explore opportunities for waste heat utilization. This forward-thinking approach could optimize energy usage and contribute to more sustainable practices within the data center industry.
Examples of waste heat reuse include
Green Mountain has already set excellent precedents with waste heat reuse in its other data center facilities. For instance, at the DC1 facility, waste heat is utilized to warm a lobster farm, whereas at the DC2 facility, it is used for a trout farm. These successful initiatives demonstrate the feasibility and potential of leveraging waste heat to support various sustainable practices outside the data center environment.
TikTok’s data center initiative: Project Clover
TikTok’s collaboration with Green Mountain is part of its ‘Project Clover’ initiative. The primary objective of Project Clover is to store European user data within Europe, addressing concerns related to data sovereignty and national security. By partnering with Green Mountain and utilizing their advanced, sustainable data center infrastructure, TikTok ensures that European user data remains secure and compliant with local regulations.
TikTok’s separate initiative in the US: Project Texas
In addition to Project Clover, TikTok has launched “Project Texas,” a separate endeavor aimed at storing US data locally. With increased scrutiny from American lawmakers concerning data privacy and security, TikTok seeks to establish a secure and reliable data storage solution within the United States. Leveraging Oracle’s cloud-based services, Project Texas is an essential step for TikTok in demonstrating its commitment to protecting user data and complying with regional regulations.
The official handover of the first data center building at the OSL2-Hamar campus to TikTok signifies a remarkable collaboration between Green Mountain and the social media giant. With a focus on renewable energy, waste heat reuse, and efficient resource allocation, this partnership aims to set new standards in sustainable and responsible data center operations. As the OSL2-Hamar campus progresses, TikTok’s data will be securely stored within Europe through ‘Project Clover,’ while ‘Project Texas’ ensures the safety and privacy of US user data. Green Mountain’s commitment to environmental stewardship and technological innovation ensures a bright and sustainable future for data center operations.