Opera commits to Iceland data center project

Web browser maker Opera has announced plans to buy space in a new data center in Hafnarfjorour, Iceland. This isn’t just any data center, however.

Dubbed the Thor Data Center, this facility is green and low-cost. It not only uses Iceland’s cool temperatures to air-cool servers, but is entirely container-based for easy expansion.

Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, founder of Opera Software, said the company chose Thor because 100% of its energy is renewable. He believes the island will provide a “more stable supply of energy than most other areas in the world.”

And for extra peace-of-mind, the data center designers had the threat of volcanoes in mind from the very beginning. It is located in the far west of the country, which is dominated by an east-to-west wind pattern that sends all volcanic ash towards Europe.

Ash cloud casts shadow of doubt over viability of Iceland data centers

In recent years Iceland has marketed itself as a low-cost data center haven, but this week a thick ash cloud on the volcanic island has caused some to think twice about the viability of data centers in Iceland.

Because Iceland sits right on top of two major tectonic plates, it has always been a hot spot for earthquakes and volcanic activity. While some potential investors are concerned about what this could do to a data center, Iceland contends that the bulk of these disasters occur offshore and that the country is safe from harm.

Even if the earthquakes are offshore, they still pose a danger to the many undersea cables linking Iceland’s data centers to the outside world. However, data centers are built in plenty of disaster-prone locations. Just look at the Silicon Valley. As far as I’m concerned, it’s too early to pass judgment on Iceland.

Photo | Flickr

More information about Verne Global's Iceland data center revealed

Last week, we covered a new data center being built by IT company Verne Global in Iceland. What makes this facility unique is not only its location, but also its utilization of renewable energy.

In an interview with Lisa Rhodes from Verne Global, blog Web Hosting Review dug up some more information about the project. Here’s an overview:

• The facility will be cooled naturally via Iceland’s cool atmosphere. No expensive air conditioning units will be needed.
• The data center could power anything from banking to cloud computing to web hosting.
• All electricity used will come from hydroelectric or geothermal sources.
• Iceland is a prime location for a data center because of its cheap resources.

Major data center project headed to Iceland

Iceland, a country still reeling from the failure of its financial system and government in 2008, may get some economic relief in the form of a large data center. With the support of several investors, Icelandic company Verne Holdings is constructing a mammoth 44-acre data center that will use geothermal and hydroelectric power exclusively.

The island nation has touted itself as the perfect data center location for some time, citing its money-saving renewable energy options. Jeff Monroe, CEO of Verne Holdings, stated:

What makes us unique is that we are able to offer our customers a cost effective, yet truly green solution to their data center needs by providing the benefits of Iceland’s 100 percent free cooling, renewable energy resources and predictable forecasting of energy pricing. Together, Verne Global and the Wellcome Trust are creating a powerful solution that enables data center users the opportunity to go green without paying a price premium.

The data center has the codename KEF001. The first spaces are expected to be available by mid-year. The facility will also be a bit unique in that it will provide direct access to three submarine cables, guaranteeing customers a very fast link to continental Europe.