A strong value proposition
A data center in Norway runs on renewable energy at Europe’s lowest cost. Moreover, the country offers excellent infrastructure and connectivity. With a highly competent workforce and stable framework conditions it makes the perfect location for your data center.
A data center in Norway has the benefit of a chilly climate to reduce the cost of cooling. In addition, the data centers run on renewable hydropower. Furthermore, placing your data center in Norway gives you a politically stable environment for doing business and a low-risk location regarding natural disasters. A well-educated workforce and strong connectivity is also in place.
Renewable energy at Europe’s lowest cost
Large data centers are heavy industrial-scale facilities and therefore require huge amounts of electricity. Norway´s offer is unique in this context. Not only presenting a 98% share of renewables in its power production but also foreseeing a significant surplus and a competitive price forecasts for the years to come. Long-term power prices in Norway are expected to be the lowest in Europe. Moreover, they were further lowered by a significant tax reduction in 2017. Abundant, highly competitive, and renewable power through a resilient, redundant grid represents a second to none proposal to the data centers of the future.
Low risk and rapid time to market
Ranked as number 2nd worldwide in the Cushman & Wakefield 2016 Data Center Risk Index, Norway continues to offer a low-risk environment for data centers. Above all, a strong democracy and well-functioning authorities contribute to this low investment risk.
Data center opportunities in Norway have strong governmental support. For instance, the world’s first data center strategy was launched in 2018. Subsequently, the government released an updated version in 2021. Signed by five ministers, it represents a strong political commitment to continuously improve the framework conditions for the data center ecosystem, including taxes, energy and fiber. You can download the report at the bottom of the page.
A competence center in the forefront of innovation
Norway has a well-educated workforce. For example, a high share of the adult population has tertiary education. Also, Norway has a number of world-class universities. Several of Norway`s research facilities in energy-intensive fields are recognized worldwide. Consequently, this allows Norwegian companies to be at the forefront of technological and green innovation.
Direct access from the Nordics to UK and USA
A new fiber optical sea cable system between Norway and the UK became operational in 2021 (no-uk.com). It delivers the next generation fiber pairs meeting the content providers` requirements for dark fiber between large data centers in Norway. The cable landing station in Norway is located in our Green Mountain’s data center at Rennesøy. Whereas, in the UK, the cable landing station is in the Newcastle area.
In other words, Green Mountain has become a gateway between Scandinavia and the UK/US markets for data center to data center communication. You can read more about Norway’s improved connectivity here.
A data center in Norway, but outside the EU?
Norway is not part of the EU, but instead we are a part of the European Economic Area. (EEA) To clarify, this means we can reap the benefits of being part of the European single market. But, at the same time we can retain our independence when it comes to for instance data privacy. Invest in Norway has published a white paper that explains how it all fits together. You can download the white paper in the download section below. In general, there is no reason to exclude Norway as a DC location based on EU concerns.