Turning waste heat into real value
Our data centers already run on 100 percent renewable hydropower, but our responsibility does not end there. The heat that leaves our facilities also has value. When we reuse that energy in local industries, we strengthen sustainability, support new jobs, and help build more resilient communities.
The Rjukan heat reuse project is now live
After several years of planning and early infrastructure preparation, our heat reuse collaboration with Hima Seafood in Rjukan is now operational. The system went live in autumn 2025 and is already demonstrating how two industries can share resources to benefit both the environment and day‑to‑day operations.
Just 800 meters separate our TEL-Rjukan data center from Hima Seafood’s land‑based trout farm. By connecting the two facilities with underground pipelines, we can send warm water from our cooling processes directly to their aquaculture system.
This stable, low‑carbon heat helps maintain optimal water temperatures in fish production, reducing the need for additional electricity. After the heat is used, the cooled water returns to our data center, where it contributes to our own cooling cycle.
How the system works
- Our data center generates excess heat during normal operations.
- This warm water is piped to Hima seafood in a closed-loop system, where it improves temperature stability in the production tanks.
- After use, the cooled water is returned to us and integrated back into our cooling process.
In practice, the same energy is used twice. It creates value for both digital infrastructure and sustainable food production.
Benefits for both partners
Hima Seafood gains a more energy‑efficient, climate‑friendly operation with greater robustness and lower overall electricity demand. For Green Mountain, this is a clear step forward in our long‑term heat reuse strategy. It shows how practical circular‑economy solutions can work at full scale. It also demonstrates the potential for rural value creation driven by stable digital infrastructure and predictable renewable energy
Looking ahead
The current operational phase handles up to 1.75 MW of heat, and together we are conducting a feasibility study to scale the system to 8 MW in phase two.
This project builds on years of earlier exploration and pilot initiatives at our sites. Now, with a fully functioning industrial partnership in Rjukan, we are ready to expand heat reuse into more locations and industries where it makes environmental and commercial sense.
Recently, a group of students did a project for a local utility company on what industries would be ideal for data center heat reuse. They used Green Mountain and our potential data center site at Kalberg as the basis for their project. You can download their report below.
