Underground facilities are increasingly gaining traction in the data center market as operators look to repurpose retired mines and bunkers from the Cold War era. These unique sites offer several advantages, such as enhanced security, physical resilience, and efficient cooling solutions.
One notable case is Iron Mountain’s facility in Boyers, Pennsylvania, located over 200 feet underground. By utilizing the ambient temperature of the surrounding rock and a 35-acre underground lake, Iron Mountain optimizes cooling while ensuring the facility meets stringent global compliance standards. Doug Titzer, the senior vice president of design and construction at Iron Mountain, emphasizes that this subterranean location provides a safeguard against extreme weather conditions and external threats, making it ideal for mission-critical workloads.
Underground data centers are no longer seen as just a novelty. Research analyst Max Smolaks from Uptime Intelligence notes their growing importance in the industry, as they deliver security, sustainability, and reuse of existing infrastructure. One exemplary facility is Norway’s Lefdal Mine Data Centers, which repurposes a former olivine mine. This operation uses naturally cool rock temperatures and fjord water for efficient cooling, significantly lowering energy demand compared to traditional data centers. Powered almost entirely by renewable energy, it appeals to customers looking to reduce their carbon footprints.
Swedish provider Bahnhof stands out for advocating underground data center solutions too, with its Pionen facility located nearly 100 feet below Stockholm. Originally constructed as a civil defense bunker, Pionen employs thick granite walls for both security and stable temperatures, integrating district cooling and renewable energy sources to further optimize its environmental impact.
The benefits of underground facilities extend beyond cooling and power efficiency. They provide natural protection from external risks, making them suitable for "cold storage" and sensitive workloads. The hidden nature of these facilities reduces community resistance to data center developments, as they remain largely out of sight.
However, constructing underground data centers involves navigating complex site-specific engineering challenges. As Titzer points out, operations require systematic planning due to the complexities involved in logistics, ventilation, moisture control, and temperature management. Operators need to consider environmental assessments, permitting, and proximity to fiber routes when selecting sites.
Market opportunities for these facilities are particularly abundant in land-constrained areas like Singapore and the Nordics. Countries such as Switzerland, with stable geological conditions and stringent planning regulations, are also considered prime candidates for underground development.
Despite the advantages, the operational challenges present hurdles. Maintaining humidity control and ventilation systems underground is inherently more complex than traditional builds, and retrofitting older structures for modern requirements can incur significant costs. Additionally, scaling these facilities vertically is limited by geological constraints.
Ultimately, while underground data centers offer unique advantages, they require substantial engineering investments that are typically justified by the critical nature of the data they protect. As the industry matures, these sophisticated subterranean installations will likely play an integral role in the landscape of data center development.
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