In the south of Norway, around a five-hour journey from Oslo, lies the village of Tonstad. Home to the beautiful Sira River, a 27 km-long lake, and one of the country’s most important hydropower plants, it is a place defined by striking natural landscapes, abundant clean energy, and welcoming people. For our team, visiting Tonstad offers a welcome contrast to the pace of London, and every trip is an opportunity to spend time in the community, listen, and learn.

At GreenScale, the second of our twelve sustainability commitments is to understand the needs of local communities and how we can contribute in a meaningful and positive way. By engaging early and responding to local priorities, we aim to ensure our data centre campuses deliver positive social impact, support employment, and create long-term value. That is why, for every new site, we carry out a structured Local Needs Assessment (LNA) during the early design stage, working closely with local authorities, NGOs, and residents to identify the community’s most pressing needs.

The team brought this commitment to life during their recent visit to Tonstad through a series of local engagements. A highlight was their visit to Tonstad School’s Careers Day, organised by 10th-grade students as part of their career studies programme. Alongside GreenScale, the event featured a range of companies, including Fjellparken, Sira Kvina, Risa, SVB, Tonstad Bakeri, Kvinesdal Sparebank, and Modalsli Rør, offering students valuable insight into future career paths. The GreenScale team came away impressed by the students, whose professionalism, organisation, and confidence stood out throughout the day. As the data centre industry continues to face a growing skills gap, supporting early careers and inspiring the next generation is more important than ever.

The team also hosted an informal information session at the local bakery, creating an open and welcoming space for residents to ask questions about the development and the opportunities it will bring. Conversations were thoughtful and wide-ranging, but a few key themes emerged.

One of the main priorities for the community is jobs. Many people spoke about the importance of creating more local opportunities and ensuring Tonstad remains an attractive place for families to live. This connection is important. Stable, long-term employment does not just benefit individuals, it supports households, schools, and local businesses. With our Tonstad Campus expected to support more than 250 roles once operational, these opportunities have the potential to attract people, partners, and families to the area, contributing to the long-term vitality of the region.

Another common question was: why Tonstad? The answer lies in the region’s unique strengths. Access to abundant hydropower provides a clean energy source, while the naturally cool climate supports efficient cooling. Strong grid infrastructure, including nearby substations, enables delivery at scale. Taken together, these factors make Tonstad a location where we can build responsibly and deliver meaningful environmental and economic impact.

In total, GreenScale’s development of the Tonstad Campus represents one of the largest planned investments in the region, with a total project investment exceeding NOK 30 billion (€2.5 billion). But for us, the long-term success of the project will be measured not only by the infrastructure we build, but by the relationships we develop along the way. By continuing to engage openly with local residents, support local priorities, and create opportunities that extend beyond construction, we aim to ensure the Tonstad Campus delivers lasting value for the community for years to come.