REYKJAVIK, Iceland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s national power company has announced its aim to power 1% of the European datacenter industry with electricity from renewable hydroelectric and geothermal sources by the year 2020. The estimated electric energy needed to achieve this target is around 1.5 TWh, about 10% of the company´s current generation. The ambition is based on Iceland´s ample renewable power development opportunities and the fact that the country has been attracting considerable datacenter industry investment drawn by the compelling power proposition, solid infrastructure, and world-class business environment.
Landsvirkjun´s power proposition is to provide the most competitive energy prices in Europe. Recent public quotes from the company offer fixed real rates of $43/MWh in 12 year contracts. In comparison, European average real market rates were from $65/MWh in 2011 on short term contracts with prices expected to increase considerably over the coming decade. In addition, Iceland’s power is 100% renewable from hydro and geothermal sources and the quality of delivery has recently been singled out by the World Economic Forum as being among the top three in the world.
Iceland´s infrastructure is well suited to support datacenters in light of its fully redundant dual optical data transmission pathways to Europe with a backup connection to North America, its reliable power transmission system built to support power intensive international aluminum smelters, and its ample supply of suitable land space offering year around free cooling possibilities since the climate is cool and temperate.
Datacenter facility provider Verne Global began operating in Iceland in 2012, starting with a 5,400 square foot hall in partnership with UK based Colt Telecommunications, but with expansion potential beyond 200,000 square feet. Verne´s contract with Landsvirkjun secures a long term supply of differentiating competitively priced, renewable and secure power.
Magnus Bjarnason, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Business Development at Landsvirkjun says, “Iceland offers differentiating economic advantages with the most competitive power prices in Europe, a commitment to long term contracts and reliable renewable energy. This makes it particularly attractive for international sustainable business development, especially in sectors such as datacenters where value is attached with being green and secure.”
About Landsvirkjun:
Landsvirkjun generates green renewable energy at competitive prices. The company is 100% owned by the Icelandic State and has over 45 years of experience generating electricity from hydro and geothermal power sources. Landsvirkjun is Iceland‘s largest producer of electricity, currently operating 15 renewable hydro- and geothermal power stations, and one of the ten largest renewable energy companies in Europe. Landsvirkjun´s mission is to maximize value creation from energy sources entrusted to the company in a sustainable and efficient manner.