KAMK’s New HUKKIS Greenhouse Utilises Waste Heat from Data Centres

The new HUKKIS greenhouse, completed on the Kajaani campus of Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK), utilises waste heat generated by on-campus server rooms used for teaching purposes. This new learning and development environment combines energy efficiency, sustainable food production, and research, development, innovation (RDI), and educational activities.

Waste heat refers to the excess heat generated during the cooling of data centres and server rooms. As Kajaani already hosts operational data centres and has several more under construction or in planning, the amount of available waste heat is expected to increase significantly in the future. This has sparked growing interest in utilisation solutions among the data centre industry, businesses, and regional development organisations.

The HUKKIS greenhouse serves as a novel research, development and innovation environment as well as a learning platform. It offers students hands-on opportunities to learn about energy management, the circular economy, and food production. Companies can use the facility to pilot new solutions and test their functionality in a real-world operating environment.

The greenhouse can generate valuable data on topics such as energy efficiency, waste heat utilisation, and new business opportunities emerging around data centre operations.

– To the best of our knowledge, a greenhouse based on data centre waste heat that functions as both an educational and RDI environment has not previously been implemented in Finland, or perhaps anywhere else in the world, says Silja Keränen, Project Manager.

The HUKKIS greenhouse has been developed as part of an investment project funded through the European Union’s Just Transition Fund (JTF), awarded by the Regional Council of Kainuu. Additional funding has been provided by Borealis, a data centre company, and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK).

The official opening of the HUKKIS greenhouse will be celebrated on 17 November 2026 at KAMK. Identical introductory presentations will be held at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:30. Visitors are warmly welcome to explore the greenhouse and learn more about its innovative approach to sustainable energy use and food production.

Further information

Silja Keränen
Project Manager, KAMK
silja.keranen@kamk.fi
+358 44 710 0288