atNorth Expands Award-Winning Nordic Compute Model

atNorth has strengthened its position as the Nordic region’s leading high-density colocation and build-to-suit data center provider, earning new recognition for its environmentally responsible infrastructure while continuing to scale AI-ready compute capacity across Iceland, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. The company’s latest milestone centers on its ICE03 facility in Akureyri, Iceland, which received the Environmental Impact Award from Data Center Dynamics for its integrated sustainability and community design.

A Technology Platform Built for High-Density, AI-Ready Workloads

atNorth’s data center strategy is rooted in the region’s renewable energy resources and naturally cool climate, enabling efficient operations and lower total cost of ownership for customers deploying HPC and AI workloads. The company specializes in high-density colocation supported by Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC), intelligent cluster operations, and flexible designs that allow enterprises to scale any workload at any density.

With headquarters in Iceland and strategic points of presence across the Nordics, the company delivers transatlantic connectivity and consistent access to clean energy. This positioning allows global enterprises to expand complex compute environments without the typical carbon and cost burdens associated with traditional data center markets.

ICE03 Sets a Blueprint for Sustainable Data Center Ecosystems

The award-winning ICE03 expansion demonstrates atNorth’s approach to building long-term, environmentally aligned digital infrastructure. The facility integrates renewable energy, DLC systems, sustainable building materials such as Glulam and Icelandic rockwool, and a PUE of under 1.2—significantly below the global average of 1.56. 

A defining component is the site’s heat reuse partnership with the municipality of Akureyri. Waste heat from ICE03 supports local community projects, including a greenhouse program where students learn about ecological cultivation and sustainable food production. This model reduces the data center’s carbon footprint while creating a circular economic benefit for the region.

A Broader Economic and Community Impact

More than 90% of the construction workforce for ICE03’s first phase was hired locally, and total investment in Akureyri is expected to reach approximately $230-234 million. The facility has also strengthened regional connectivity through a new point of presence (POP) established by Farice, enabling more resilient data transmission to mainland Europe.

“We are delighted that our ICE03 data center has been recognized for its positive impact on its local environment,” said Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO atNorth. “There is a critical need for a transformation in the approach to digital infrastructure development.”