What the development involves
Fortum and Microsoft plan for heat from Microsoft's facilities in Espoo and Kirkkonummi to cover about 40% of the area's 2 TWh of annual district heating when fully built out, phased in from 2027 (Datacenter Sweden, May 2026).
In Denmark, atNorth's 22.5 MW DEN01 facility is set to supply heat to more than 8,000 homes from 2028 (atNorth, November 2025). Google's facility in Hamina supplies heat to the local network, and the energy company expects it to cover 80% of the network's annual demand (Google, May 20, 2024).
What benefits are documented
Most figures refer to planned volumes that have not yet been delivered. Even so, they show that energy companies are prepared to build their supply around data centers, and that agreements can be put in place before the facility is complete.
What it could mean in Sweden
For a developer, the early phase is the most valuable. Site selection, temperature level, space for heat pumps and contract terms can be shaped before the operator is on board. This makes heat part of the value of the site, not a later add-on.
What needs to be investigated
How agreements share risk when the data center is built out in phases. Who owns and operates the heat pumps. How delivery is secured if the IT load varies, and how summer heat should be valued.
