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Varde

Reusing data centre waste heat for vegetable production in greenhouses

Together with atNorth, a leading Nordic data centre developer, WA3RM plans to develop a new project in the municipality of Varde on the Danish west coast. The data centre campus, called DEN02, will have an initial capacity of 250MW and excess heat from the site will be recycled with WA3RM as part of a state-of-the-art greenhouse development for vegetable production. The total area for the data centre and greenhouse project covers 174 hectares.

Later this year we will begin to work on the second greenhouse. Paired with Greenhouse 1 this will provide a big boost to Sweden’s domestic production of tomatoes, reaching a total of around 17,000 tonnes of annual production – about every fifth tomato eaten in Sweden.

Varde Project

Pre-study phase

Anchor industry

Data center

Waste stream

Heat

Application

Greenhouse

Vegetable

TBD

Greenhouse size

30 – 40 ha

Investment (€)

123

Production start

TBD

Later this year we will begin to work on Greenhouse 2. Paired with Greenhouse 1 this will provide a big boost to Sweden’s domestic production of tomatoes, reaching a total of around 17,000 tons of annual production – about every fifth tomato eaten in Sweden.

Vegetable production in modern greenhouses using residual heat addresses many of the problems that exist in today's food production around the world, such as water scarcity and emissions from fossil fuel heating.

A project like this can redefine the Nordic food landscape. By slashing emissions from heating and transportation and, dramatically reducing water consumption, this initiative represents a more responsible approach to food production.

Sources: McKinsey & Company, The energy transition: A region-by-region agenda for near-term action, December 15, 2022.UN World Water Development Report 2023 Ipcc:fao/WHO. Global Data, 2022 https://www.unesco.org/reports/wwdr/2023/en/food-and-agriculture

1/3

of global CO2-emissions comes from food production

56 %

more food needed by 2050 to feed 10 billion people

72 %

of fresh water withdrawal comes from agriculture

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How it works

Vegetable production using waste heat

Excess heat from the data center is captured.

The captured heat, hot water, is transferred in pipes to the greenhouse and used to keep the climate inside it ideal for growing greens. All year round. No matter weather or outside temperatures.

As the greenhouse warms up, the hot water cool cools down and is transferred back to the industry to once again be used for cooling. Capture, heat, cool, repeat.

With a reliable and clean source of heat in place, we plug in renewable electricity start growing vegetables.

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, minimizing water loss through evaporation or runoff. Rain water is collected and used for watering.

With a surplus of renewable energy in the area, and a perfect position to shorten distance from farm to fork, Varde municipality has the potential to grow a new center for vegetable production.

More local food (all year round)

Increasing domestic food production reduces export dependency and makes the food system more resilient.

Avoided emissions

Growing near the end consumer and heating the greenhouse with residual heat instead of oil or gas help avoid emissions.

New job opportunities

This project will create new jobs the associated benefits that come with that for both individuals and communities.

Less water

Compared to growing tomatoes in the field, water usage per tomato grown is up to 90% lower in a hydroponic greenhouse.

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Meeting needs for computing power and resource-efficient food production all at once

Challange

The rapid growth of AI technologies is driving an increased demand for data centers, as vast computational power is required to support machine learning, data processing, and cloud-based services. Simultaneously, the global need for food production is rising, with an urgent push to grow more with fewer resources.

Innovative solutions, such as using excess heat from data centers to power sustainable agricultural projects, offer a way to address both challenges. By integrating data infrastructure with resource-efficient food production, we can reduce environmental impact and create a more sustainable future.

UN Sustainability Development Goals addressed:

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.

8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-  and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead.

8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead.

8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.

Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

11.a Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

Goal 13: Climate action

13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Goal 14: Life below water

14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.

Goal 15: Life on land

15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements

15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

17.16 Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.

Project partners

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Tomatoes from our greenhouse project in Frövi are available in store all over Sweden.

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Welcoming Food Ventures

Operator

The greenhouses in Frövi will be operated by Food Ventures. A global leader in greenhouse growing, specialized in continuously supplying fresh and tasty vegetables, grown sustainably in high-tech greenhouses.

The project site is located in Ølgod, Varde municipality, Denmark

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