The prefabricated, turnkey modular solution supports Polar in increasing the speed, innovation and resilience of its AI-friendly data center
Vertiv, (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has been selected as a leading supplier by Polar to build its first AI-ready modular data center in Norway. Polar's facility is powered entirely by hydroelectricity and minimizes CO₂ emissions, while operating high-density, liquid-cooled environments of up to 120kW per rack. The Vertiv solution is designed with N+1 redundancy in electrical and thermal systems, to provide the resiliency and reliability needed to support AI and accelerated computing activities. Polar's goal is to build an industry-leading, environmentally friendly infrastructure platform that enables customers to harness the potential of AI well into the future.
As AI applications increasingly require more resources, the demand for scalable and energy-efficient infrastructure is higher than ever. Thanks to Vertiv's prefabricated power and cooling infrastructure, Polar's new facility will be able to meet these challenges, supporting a high-performance computing environment with agility aligned with corporate sustainability goals.
Viktor Petik, senior vice president, infrastructure solutions at Vertiv, said: "This collaboration is a testament to the strength of Vertiv's modular approach, providing Polar with a high-density, AI-ready infrastructure that combines rapid deployment with exceptional energy efficiency. By leveraging factory-assembled infrastructure, we can overcome traditional on-site challenges and provide a solution tailored to Polar's evolving requirements."
Andy Hayes, CEO of Polar, said: "We are excited to partner with Vertiv on this innovative project, which allows us to expand quickly and efficiently while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. The flexibility of Vertiv's solution allows us to easily scale up infrastructure to meet market demand and makes it easier for us to support our customers with cutting-edge AI and HPC capabilities."
As part of this collaboration, Vertiv is committed to manufacturing, delivering, installing and commissioning a fully equipped, scalable and AI-ready prefabricated modular (PFM) solution capable of supporting an IT load of 12 MW, with the ability to expand up to 50 MW. The solution includes Vertiv™ EXL S1, a highly efficient and interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capable of supporting the variable power loads of AI and other HPC applications. It is also equipped with Vertiv™ Liebert® AFC compact chiller with very low GWP refrigerant (Global Warming Potential), designed to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and which allows annual energy consumption up to 20% lower than fixed screw systems.
The first phase of implementation of the structure is scheduled for the second half of 2025, with a subsequent expansion already planned. The facility is the first of an ambitious program by Polar to improve the standards of AI-ready data centers across Europe.
