DELSKA
Delska leverages the Northern European climate Data centres consume roughly 1 % of global electricity, making efficiency a business imperative as much as an environmental concern. Delska’ s Riga facility targets a Power Usage Effectiveness ratio of less than 1.3 – below the industry average of 1.6 – by exploiting geographic advantages that many operators cannot access.
The facility operates on 100 % renewable energy sourced from Northern European wind farms, eliminating carbon emissions from power consumption. Even backup generators use Neste MY diesel derived from renewable feedstocks rather than fossil fuels, ensuring sustainability extends to emergency power systems.
The region’ s cooler temperatures allow the facility to use free-cooling systems for extended periods throughout the year, reducing reliance on energy-intensive mechanical cooling that typically accounts for 40 % of data centre power consumption. Free cooling draws cold outside air directly into the facility when ambient temperatures drop below server inlet requirements.
The facility combines multiple efficiency technologies: hot-aisle containment prevents warm and cold air mixing, magnetic-bearing chillers eliminate friction losses and modular design prevents overprovisioning that wastes energy on unused capacity.
“ Our location in the EU – with its Nordic climate, low electricity costs
and proximity to major European hubs – positions us as a bridge between European and Asian markets,” Maria explains.
Energy efficiency becomes more critical as AI workloads drive power consumption higher. Where traditional servers consume steady power levels, AI applications create variable loads that challenge cooling systems and grid capacity.
Beyond operational efficiency, Delska explores waste heat recovery programmes with municipal authorities. Data centres typically reject heat
126 September 2025