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On December 12, 2025, atNorth, the leading Nordic high-density colocation and built-to-suit data center provider, won the 'Environmental Impact Award' at the Data Center Dynamics Awards. The award celebrated atNorth's expansion of its ICE03 data center in Akureyri, Iceland, which topped the competition as a result of its design blueprint for data center ecosystems that integrates environmental stewardship with social and economic impact, ensuring long-term, sustainable growth.
The ICE03 site benefits from the Nordic's naturally cool climate and an abundance of renewable energy, enabling highly energy efficient Direct Liquid Cooling. The site was built using sustainable materials such as the laminated wood product Glulam as an alternative to steel beams and Icelandic rockwool, with careful attention to the surrounding natural landscape. With a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.2, compared to a global average of 1.56, the site runs high performance workloads in an environmentally responsible way.
atNorth formed an alliance with the local municipality to reuse waste heat from ICE03 for community projects in Akureyri, including a community greenhouse that enables local school children to learn about ecological cultivation and sustainable food production. This partnership lowers the data center's carbon footprint, promotes the sustainability of locally produced fresh vegetables, and allows atNorth clients to decarbonize their IT workloads while contributing to the region's circular economy. The presence of ICE03 has also facilitated a new point of presence established by telecommunications business Farice, who operate 3 submarine cables connecting Iceland to mainland Europe, enabling international traffic to be routed directly to mainland Europe and greatly enhancing telecommunications security and reliability for the region.
Beyond environmental impact, atNorth actively supports local economies and communities. During the first phase of development of ICE03, over 90% of the workforce were local to the area, with the business committed to hiring locally throughout the operational phase. atNorth has donated a large amount of mechatronics equipment to the Vocational College of Akureyri to assist in training local people for data center-related roles, sponsored a local run in Akureyri, and supported local sports teams, the ski facility, and the local search and rescue team. According to Ásthildur Sturludóttir, the Mayor of Akureyri, atNorth's total investments in the town will equate to approximately 109 million EUR, with investments expected to reach approximately 200 million Euros over time. Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO atNorth, stated: "We are delighted that our ICE03 data center has been recognized for its positive impact on its local environment. There is a critical need for a transformation in the approach to digital infrastructure development to ensure the scalability and longevity of the industry. Data center operators must take a holistic approach to become long-term, valued partners of thriving communities."