Apple has followed up on its promise last year to build a data center in Denmark with an “ambitious agreement” with the University of Aarhus (pictured) on a new biogas research and development partnership, according to CPH Post Online. Foulum is a small town outside of Viborg where Aarhus University’s agricultural research facilities are located.
Biogas typically refers to a mixture of different gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste or food waste. Biogas is a renewable energy source and in many cases exerts a very small carbon footprint.
CPH Post Online says that, under the terms of the agreement, Apple will provide financial support to the university’s research into biogas and how usable energy can be extracted from agriculture, whether it is fertilizer or straw supplied by local farmers. At a cost of approximately 6.3 billion kroner (US$950 million), the data center is the largest foreign capital investment in Danish history. It will run on 100% renewable energy and power Apple’s online services. It is expected to be operational in 2017.
In February 2015, Apple announced a €1.7 billion plan to build and operate two data centers in Europe, each powered by 100% renewable energy. The facilities — located in County Galway, Ireland, and Denmark’s central Jutland — will power Apple’s online services including the iTunes Store, App Store, iMessage, Maps and Siri for customers across Europe.
