One of the most advanced decarbonisation projects in Europe is now underway in the Helsinki region, where a major data centre development is being designed to serve a dual purpose. Alongside supporting digital infrastructure, the site will act as a large-scale source of low carbon heat.
The 75MW facility, developed by Microsoft, is being integrated into a wider energy system through collaboration with Fortum. Waste heat generated from the data centre cooling process will be captured, upgraded, and transferred into the district heating network. This network supplies heat to Espoo, Kauniainen, and parts of Kirkkonummi, supporting homes and businesses across the region.
At the centre of the system are industrial heat pumps from Oilon. These units are used to recover heat from the cooling cycle and raise it to temperatures suitable for district heating. The installation is reported to be the largest system of its kind for recycling waste heat from data centres and also represents the largest single contract in Oilon’s history.
This project reflects a clear direction for industrial energy use. Data centres are no longer viewed only as energy consumers. They are becoming active contributors to energy networks. Waste heat is being treated as a resource that can be reused rather than a by-product to remove. Heat pump systems are now operating at a scale that supports industrial demand, while district heating networks enable efficient distribution across large areas.
Pure Thermal is the UK partner for Oilon heat pump solutions. This allows similar system capability to be introduced across projects in the UK, supporting organisations that are working to reduce emissions while maintaining operational performance.
In terms of system capability, individual units are available from 30kW to 3,000kW, with output temperatures reaching up to 120 degrees Celsius. These systems can also be combined to deliver multi megawatt solutions, making them suitable for large scale applications such as district energy and industrial processing.
The Oilon range is designed to support projects where high output and temperature are essential. This type of solution is already in operation, showing how industrial processes and energy systems can work together to support long term decarbonisation.