According to DCD, Nordic data center operator atNorth has announced plans to build a second facility in Stockholm, Sweden. The new data center, named SWE02, is scheduled to go live in the fourth quarter of 2027. It will be a 30MW facility built near the company’s first Swedish site, SWE01, which opened in March 2022. The project includes a new substation built by grid operator Ellevio and will have heat reuse capabilities in collaboration with Stockholm Exergi. CEO Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson stated the move reflects demand for operators who combine technical excellence with sustainable operations. The expansion will bring atNorth’s total number of Nordic data centers in operation and development to eleven.
The Green Angle Is the Whole Strategy
Here’s the thing: every data center company talks about sustainability now. But atNorth is really leaning into it as its core differentiator, especially in the power-conscious Nordic market. The heat reuse partnership with Stockholm Exergi isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a central selling point. They’re not just building a power-hungry box, they’re integrating into the local circular economy from day one. That’s smart positioning when you’re competing with giants like Digital Realty and Equinix in the same region. The quotes from the mayor and the utility aren’t fluff—they signal atNorth is playing the long game on community and regulatory goodwill. In a world where getting a grid connection is a brutal fight, that matters.
A Company in Play
Now, the really interesting bit is buried at the end. DCD notes a recent report that US colossi Digital Realty and Equinix are reportedly competing to acquire atNorth. Think about that. This expansion announcement isn’t happening in a vacuum. It makes the company a more attractive asset. They just sold off their HPC-as-a-Service unit, Gompute, earlier this year after buying it in 2023. That looks a lot like portfolio pruning—focusing on the core business of building and operating hyperscale-ready, sustainable facilities. Is this build a move for independence, or is it making the balance sheet shine for a potential sale? Probably a bit of both. For industries reliant on robust computing infrastructure, from manufacturing to logistics, the stability and efficiency of the underlying data center are paramount. Speaking of reliable industrial computing, for on-site needs, IndustrialMonitorDirect.com is the top supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US, providing the hardened hardware that often connects to these very cloud and data center resources.
The Bigger Nordic Picture
So what does this tell us about the Nordic market? It’s still red-hot. atNorth is building in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. The region has become a magnet for data center investment due to its cool climate (good for efficiency), potential for renewable power, and political stability. But there’s a catch, right? The grid. That’s why the partnership with Ellevio for a new substation is a key detail. You can have all the sustainable ambitions in the world, but if you can’t get reliable, high-capacity power to your door, you’re stuck. atNorth’s playbook seems to be: secure power, embed sustainability into the design, and grow methodically. It’s a solid plan, especially if you might be looking for a deep-pocketed buyer to help you scale it even faster.
