Apple announced a $1.9 billion plan to build and operate two data centers in Europe, each powered by 100 percent renewable energy. The facilities, located in County Galway, Ireland, and Denmark’s central Jutland, will power Apple’s online services for customers across Europe.
According to Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, this new investment represents Apple’s biggest project in Europe to date, and the company will introduce some of its “most advanced green building designs yet.”
The two data centers, each measuring 545,000 square feet, are expected to begin operations in 2017. Apple said the data centers will run entirely on renewable energy sources from day one, most likely from wind energy, and the company plans to work with local partners to develop additional renewable energy projects.
In Denmark, Apple will eliminate the need for additional generators by locating the data center adjacent to one of Denmark’s largest electrical substations. The facility is also designed to capture excess heat from equipment inside the facility and conduct it into the district heating system to help warm homes in the neighboring community.
For the project in Ireland, Apple will recover land previously used for growing and harvesting non-native trees and restore native trees to Derrydonnell Forest. The project will also provide an outdoor education space for local schools, as well as a walking trail for the community.
