International. Equinix, a digital infrastructure company, is calling on governments, municipalities, energy companies and heat network operators around the world to join the Equinix Heat Export program to unlock the value of waste heat generated in their International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data centers.
Equinix's Heat Export program extracts waste heat from its IBX data centers and exports it to buildings in surrounding communities, providing a cleaner alternative to traditional methods at a time of rising global energy prices and supply constraints. The company has implemented several heat export initiatives in Europe and the Americas with projects in France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and Canada.
Since July, in Paris, Equinix has been exporting heat in its newest IBX, PA10, and transferring it to the Plaine Saulnier urban development area and the Olympic Aquatics Centre, which hosts several events during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Heat exported from TR5, one of Equinix's IBX data centers in Toronto, is distributed across several residential buildings, as well as a nearby hotel, university, and local shopping center in downtown Markham. TR5 also supplies domestic hot water to several buildings throughout the year, thanks to the heating network of Equinix's energy partner, Markham District Energy.
Equinix is dedicated to expanding its Heat Export program into suitable locations, where data centers can serve as valuable sources of heat for local communities. The company is actively seeking partnerships with organizations such as heat network operators, energy companies and local municipalities to make heat export projects a reality.
"Our Heat Export program is an important way for data centers to give back to their local communities," said Gary Aitkenhead, senior vice president, EMEA IBX Operations Equinix. "However, it is only possible through collaboration with energy suppliers, governments and other external facilitators. Therefore, we request that more partners join the program and repurpose the heat of our operations for the good of people and our planet."
Globally, Equinix is investing in new and innovative technologies in energy efficiency, renewable energy and heat export projects as part of its global Future First sustainability strategy, focusing on areas that have the greatest impact on customers and key stakeholders. The company was the first in the data center industry to commit to becoming climate neutral, aligned with an approved science-based short-term goal, for emissions reductions across its global operations and supply chain by 2030.
