Verne partners with Neste for renewable diesel in Finland

Verne has announced a partnership with Neste to utilise renewable diesel for powering back-up generators at its data centres in Finland.

In a move aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Verne plans to switch to Neste MY Renewable Diesel. This change is expected to slash the emissions from back-up generators by approximately 90% over the lifecycle of the fuel in comparison to traditional fossil diesel.

This initiative aligns with Verne's efforts to minimise the environmental footprint of its data centre operations while assisting customers in reaching their sustainability objectives.

Neste's renewable diesel is produced from 100% renewable raw materials, including animal fat from food industry waste, used cooking oil, as well as various residues from vegetable oil production. This composition closely resembles that of fossil diesel, enabling Verne to transition to renewable diesel without any modifications to its existing infrastructure.

Kim Gunnelius, Head of Finland at Verne, elaborated on the decision to switch to renewable diesel, stating, "Verne's mission is to provide data center services that don't cost the earth and this switch to renewable diesel is a key milestone for the company and our customers, as it means we will be able to eliminate fossil fuels from our operations in Finland." He added that the back-up generators are typically only utilised during extended power failures, which are rare due to the reliability of Finland's power grid, but they are tested regularly to ensure minimal environmental impact.

In the Finnish climate, renewable diesel is advantageous as it operates efficiently in temperatures as low as -32°C and maintains quality over extended storage periods, a vital feature for back-up power systems. This fuel quality ensures better start-up and throttle response in extremely cold conditions.

Joni Pihlström, Vice President, Marketing & Services, B2B Sales at Neste, remarked on the significance of the partnership: "Collaboration is key when we are taking the necessary steps to fight the climate change. Verne, as one of the pioneers in its industry, is working towards a more sustainable future, and we are excited to be a trusted partner supporting its journey. This partnership showcases the ease of switching from fossil fuel to Neste's lower-emission renewable diesel that can be done without compromising the performance or the reliability of data center operations."