Kolos

2017: Construction of the largest data center

In August, 2017 it became known of construction of the world's largest data center. The Norwegian commune Ballangen (beyond  Arctic Circle, the Arctic) became the place of implementation of this project.

This four-storeyed computer system which is built by the Norwegian company Kolos will have the area of 600 thousand square meters (corresponds to the area of 84 football fields). By August, 2017 the biggest data processing center in the world is in the Chinese Lyanfana (585 thousand square meters).

The project of the world's largest data center from Kolos company

The Norwegian platform after start will consume about 70  MW of energy, but  10  years later its energy demands will increase up to  1000  MW as a result of connection of additional computer capacities. For comparison, the power of large data center of Facebook in the Swedish city of Lulea occupying the space of 27 thousand square meters is estimated only at 200 MW.

The place where there will be a data center of Kolos, is surrounded with water and hills. It will become a natural ditch which will be able to protect the center from any physical risks — reported in the company.

It is supposed that this project will allow to create from 2 to 3 thousand new jobs. Investments into it do not reveal.

Thanks to a frigid climate of the region and access to hydropower authors of the project will be able to cut down expenses on the electric power approximately for 60%.

A choice for benefit of Norway was made proceeding from the fact that the power supply system of the country is considered one of the most reliable in the world. Besides,  electric power cost here the lowest in Europe due to wide use of the hydroelectric power stations and wind stations relating to "net" or to renewable energy sources, the CEO of Kolos Mark Robinson noted.

According to the Minister of the environment of Norway Vidar Helgesen, the government lowered rates to stimulate creation of data processing centers in Norway.

We welcome this initiative … We want that many projects were realized, and I support this as any other — he said.[1]

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