The project will provide 80% of the heat demand for Finnish neighborhoods.

Nestled on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, Google’s Hamina data center is set to become a hub for both digital information and sustainable heat for the district. In a partnership with city-owned energy provider Haminan Energia, Google is launching its first offsite heat recovery project. This initiative aims to reduce the company’s environmental footprint while also warming homes and businesses in the historic port city.

The project will capture heat generated by the Google Hamina data center, which already operates with 97% carbon-free energy. This translates to recovered heat that is also 97% carbon-free. According to Haminan Energia, it will represent 80% of the annual heat demand for the local district heating network.

Heat generated by the data center will be re-routed and provided free of charge to the district heating network in nearby Hamina. This network covers local households, schools, and public service buildings.

“Google and the city of Hamina have a long and flourishing history together,” said Ilari Soosalu, Mayor of Hamina. “Google is an excellent example of a company with a strong commitment to a sustainable future. We are proud to be the hometown of Google in Finland.“

How it Works

Previously, the heat from the Hamina data center was captured and used to heat on-site offices and buildings. Starting next year, the warm temperature emanating from the data center will be recovered to optimize the district heating network’s energy efficiency and reduce its carbon emissions footprint.

Commitment to a Carbon-Free Future

Google is aiming to achieve net zero emissions across all its operations and value chain by 2030. This goal is supported by an ambitious clean energy target: to run all its offices and data centers on 24/7 carbon-free energy.

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This project brings Google closer to achieving this goal while also supporting Finland’s long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability and technological innovation.