Apple has announced a multi-billion dollar European data centre project to add new state of the art facilities in County Galway in Ireland, and Denmark’s Jutland peninsula in 2017, both powered 100% by renewable energy.
Apple data centres use advanced green designs
Each data centre will measure more than 166,000 square metres and according to Apple will serve content for iTunes, the App Store, iMessage, Maps and Siri for European consumers. Apple has chosen Athenry in Ireland and Viborg in Denmark to locate the server farms.
“We are grateful for Apple’s continued success in Europe and proud that our investment supports communities across the continent”, said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a release. “This significant new investment represents Apple’s biggest project in Europe to date. We’re thrilled to be expanding our operations, creating hundreds of local jobs and introducing some of our most advanced green building designs yet”.
Recovery of land
The Irish project will include the recovery land previously used for the growth and harvesting of non-native trees. Apple said it plans to restore native flora to the land, and also create an outdoor education space for local schools, as well as a walking trail.
Apple will locate its Denmark installation near to an existing substation, so there will be no need to build additional generators. The company also plans to add a system that collects excess heat from inside the data centre and distribute it to heat homes in nearby Viborg.
The company states that its new data centres will have the lowest environmental impact of any Apple data centre to date, including the fairly new facility in North Carolina, which has its own solar farm.
Environmental responsibility
“We believe that innovation is about leaving the world better than we found it, and that the time for tackling climate change is now”, Apple’s environmental chief Lisa Jackson said. “We’re excited to spur green industry growth in Ireland and Denmark and develop energy systems that take advantage of their strong wind resources. Our commitment to environmental responsibility is good for the planet, good for our business and good for the European economy”.
You can find out more about Apple’s environmental programs here.
Larry Banks is a keen follower of technology and finance. He has worked for a variety of online publications, writing about a diverse range of topics including mobile networks, patents, and Internet video delivery technologies.