Microsoft has announced the launch of its newest sustainable data center region in Sweden, with a presence in Gävle, Sandviken and Staffanstorp. The new datacenter region brings the best of Microsoft’s sustainability investments, powering the data center with 100% carbon-free energy and supporting zero-waste operations.
Businesses can now host their cloud workloads in Microsoft’s Swedish datacenters.
Microsoft’s Sweden partners, including Accenture & Avanade, Atea, Capgemini & Sogeti, EY and TietoEVRY, will support digital transformation across public and private sectors. “Atea welcomes more sustainable options to further accelerate digital development in Sweden. Many of our customers are dealing with specific data requirements, and additional options to choose from is a large step in the right direction. The launch of Microsoft’s new data center fits well with our mission to build Sweden with IT, together with our customers as well as our technological partners, says Linus Wallin, CEO Atea Sweden.”
“Companies are seeking new, creative ways to meet sustainability goals while serving the computing needs of their digital enterprise. Having Microsoft’s sustainable data centre in Sweden helps Accenture and our clients by expanding access to local resources, complementing the worldwide capabilities that cloud-first enterprises need. This helps companies tap into the Cloud Continuum’s dynamic array of capabilities—from the public cloud to the edge to everything in-between— while also reducing energy consumption and delivering greater efficiency at scale,” said Mattias Lewrén, country managing director and Accenture Sweden and Nordic Cloud First lead.
World-class, sustainable data centers in Sweden
Microsoft’s Sweden datacenter region is committed to cutting carbon emissions, achieving zero waste certification, and running on 100% carbon-free energy. Microsoft’s Sweden datacenter region will be powered by 100% carbon-free energy with 24/7 hourly energy matching with partner Vattenfall. To support its operations, Microsoft has signed agreements for new renewable energy projects with bp, Enlight Renewable Energy, European Energy, NTR, Prime Capital and wpd. In addition, Sweden is Microsoft’s first data center region whose backup generators will run on Preem Evolution Diesel Plus, the world’s first Nordic Eco-labeled fuel, which contains at least 50% renewable raw material, and nearly an equivalent reduction in net carbon dioxide emissions compared with standard fossil diesel blends.
Microsoft is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for the region, which will help conserve additional resources like energy and water, generate less waste and support human health. In addition, the new datacenter region will be home to Microsoft’s third European Circular Center, which repurposes servers and hardware in our datacenter. These centers are the first of their kind in the industry. The Swedish Circular Center will have the ability to support 12,000 servers per month. Supporting the company’s water positive by 2030 commitment, the datacenters’ servers will be cooled with only outside air 100% of the year, and rainwater will be captured at the datacenter, used primarily to provide humidification and to support onsite data center facilities. “Our Swedish data centers are among the most sustainably designed and operated in the world. This is an important launch for Sweden and Europe, as I am of the firm conviction that new tech innovation is the most important enabler for the world to reach the global sustainability targets. By moving to the cloud, we create new opportunities to accelerate the transformation to a more sustainable future – together,” said Hélène Barnekow, general manager of Microsoft Sweden.
