About Net Zero

Data centers are a cornerstone of the modern, knowledge-based society, and can play a vital part in the transition to a zero-carbon economy in Europe.

The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers is a pan-European initiative which seeks to address key sectoral challenges in concrete innovation projects and establish stronger links between operators, suppliers, and governments, acting as a gateway for innovation and partnerships in Europe.

Why the hub?

The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers adresses key areas of opportunities in the effort to speed up the industry's race towards net zero.

01

Space for innovation

The Hub will set up innovation programs together with academic partners and industry start-ups, by identifying concrete challenges and facilitate calls and innovation projects to deliver on ready-to-market solutions.

02

Pan-European collaboration

Fostering knowledge sharing in a concrete, physical setup allows the best practice to flow freely between collaborators and members across Europe.

03

Platform for public engagement

The Hub will work towards creating a stronger link between data center operators and the greater public by securing a higher legitimacy and acknowledgement of data centers in the public domain and on a policy level.

04

Faster to Net Zero

The Data Center industry faces increasing internal and external demands, that can only be solved collectively. Through collaboration across industry sectors and public-private partnerships, the journey towards net zero will be greatly accelerated

Cross-sector collaboration on innovative, ready-to-market solutions for the European data center industry

Latest insights

Net Zero Hub launches annual report: highlights, strategies & accomplishments

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • April 7, 2025

This comprehensive report outlines key activities, strategies, and accomplishments of the Net Zero Innovation Hub since its launch in September 2023 through February 2025.

NZIH Workshop in Amsterdam: Pilot projects to start in 2025

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • February 20, 2025

Data Centers as grid assets, heat reuse ready solutions with and without district heating, and clean back-up solutions.The Net Zero innovation hub for data centers hosted a workshop in Amsterdam at Google, where the Hub members presented innovative solutions which will be integrated in pilots in 2025. During the workshop, hub members were updated on ongoing projects. The ongoing RFI for net-zero data center back-up solutions has delivered multiple clean back–up solutions, which are currently being evaluated. The Heat Reuse team delivered reference designs, ready to be implemented in projects. The Operators aligned the Scope 3 emissions project track, led by Data4.

New heat reuse calculator supports business development of heat reuse cases

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • December 5, 2024

The Net Zero Innovation Hub has developed an online tool to estimate the value of heat provided by data centers. The tool is intended to support the business development of use cases for data center heat reuse

The Net Zero Innovation Hub (NZIH) initiates a Request for Information (RFI) for Net Zero Data Center Back-Up Power Solutions

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • November 12, 2024

Danfoss, Data4, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric and Vertiv today launched the first RFI of its kind in Europe, intended to accelerate the deployment of innovative solutions which can substitute diesel back-up generators.

Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers announces Strategic Alliance with Open Compute Project Foundation

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • October 16, 2024

Today, the Open Compute Project Foundation (OCP), the nonprofit organization bringing hyperscale innovations to all, and the NetZero Innovation Hub (NZIH) for Data Centers, aimed at driving forward sustainable innovations in data center technology, are pleased to announce a new alliance partnership.

Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers to host a session at DCD London

By Merima Dzanic • August 27, 2024

Net Zero Innovation Hub board of directors to host a session at the upcoming DCD London conference on 18th September. The session is taking place on 18th September from 15.00 GMT at the Business Design Center in London. During the session, attendees will find out about current and upcoming projects, how to get involved, and meet the team and the board behind the Innovation Hub. The session is open to all attendees of the conference. The Net Zero Innovation Hub is a pan-European initiative led by Danfoss, Data4, Microsoft, Google, Schneider Electric and Vertiv. The scale of innovation projects struggles to keep up with the scale, speed and complexity of data center projects. To master the challenges of the twin transition, towards Net Zero and AI, the data center industry needs new innovation models. This can be achieved through cooperation across the data center industry, with companies driving innovation, start-ups, academia, R&D institutions, industry associations, advocacy entities, public and private investors. The Hub is selecting innovations in the early commercialization phase, to evaluate and execute projects, solutions, and business models based on their “Net Zero Impact” and acceleration capability towards Net Zero. The focus of the first set of projects are within the area of Carbon-Free Energy and Heat Reuse, which we are excited to announce together with our partners. “We are looking forward to the session at DCD, meeting industry partners and developing the partnerships needed to bring innovation projects from First-of-a-Kind (FoaK) to beyond the critical mass”, says Alberto Ravagni, CEO of the Net Zero Innovation Hub. “Net Zero means for us having a zero or positive impact on planet, people and profit, starting with the environmental impact measured by the GHG emissions, and extending to the holistic LCA impact categories”, adds Ravagni. About the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers The Net Zero Innovation Hub is a pan-European initiative which seeks to address key sectoral challenges through concrete innovation projects and establishing stronger links between operators, suppliers, and governments. Workshop link: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/dcd-connect-live/connect-london/2024/dcdworkshop1/ Contact: Alberto Ravagni, CEO ar@netzerodatacenters.com Merima Dzanic, PR & Communications merima@netzerodatacenters.com +45 20 15 50 21