NorthC

NorthC chooses circular and chemical free cooling water treatment

Data centers play a crucial role in our digital society, but they also face growing pressure on energy and water use. For NorthC, the largest regional data center provider in the Netherlands, this was reason to critically review how its cooling systems were designed. The question was clear: how can energy efficiency be improved without increasing water consumption.

The challenge: balancing PUE and WUE

For NorthC, sustainability is about measurable performance. Power Usage Effectiveness indicates how efficiently energy is used, while Water Usage Effectiveness shows how much water is required to achieve that performance. In practice, a lower PUE often leads to higher water demand. NorthC set out to improve both indicators simultaneously.

There was a second challenge as well. During the period of chemical cooling water treatment, the cooling systems suffered from severe biological fouling and corrosion. This negatively affected reliability, maintenance requirements, and the lifespan of the installations.

The solution: Pathema’s chemical free technology

After an initial meeting at an industry event, NorthC contacted Pathema. The core of the solution lay in a fundamentally different view on cooling water treatment. Not controlling water chemistry with chemicals, but steering the process through physics and circular water use.

At NorthC, Pathema’s Industrial Vortex Generator technology was implemented. This chemical free approach made it possible to operate at higher cycles of concentration while simultaneously improving heat transfer. As a result, both energy and water loads were reduced.

From fragmentation to control

NorthC operated 124 individual cooling towers, each with its own water management system for make up and blowdown. Pathema integrated these separate systems into one centralized cooling water treatment solution.

This centralization delivered immediate benefits. Drinking water consumption decreased by 35 percent due to higher cycles of concentration. The annual use of cooling water chemicals was fully eliminated. CO₂ emissions were reduced significantly, by 83 percent. At the same time, evaporative capacity remained unchanged, which is essential for data center cooling performance.

Measurable results in daily operation

The impact of the new cooling water treatment is clear and measurable. Where approximately 1,200 kilograms of chemicals were previously used each year, consumption has now dropped to zero. Hourly water consumption decreased, while the thermal capacity of the system increased.

Since the transition to circular and chemical free cooling water treatment, cooling performance has become more stable and cleaner. Temperature distribution across the data halls is uniform, even during prolonged hot periods. Issues related to biological growth and corrosion are a thing of the past.

A partnership that continues to grow

The collaboration between NorthC and Pathema has deepened over the years. Between 2019 and 2022, four installations were realized at different locations, including Delft, Amsterdam, Nieuwegein, and Aalsmeer. All systems operate stably and to the full satisfaction of both parties.

NorthC continues to expand, now also beyond the Netherlands. Sustainability remains a core pillar in that growth. Together, NorthC and Pathema continuously explore how cooling water treatment can be made even smarter, simpler, and more circular.

Conclusion: sustainable cooling without compromise

This case demonstrates that data centers do not have to choose between performance and sustainability. By combining chemical free technology, system integration, and circular water use, NorthC has implemented a future ready solution. With Pathema’s technology, cooling has become more reliable, more efficient, and rigorously simple.

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