This week, I was thrilled to speak with Peder Naerboe, Founder and Owner of Bulk Infrastructure, for my Nordic Visionaries series. I’ve known about data centers for years, but Peder totally reframed them for me as “power refineries,” where Norway’s abundant clean energy can be converted into digital form right at the source.
By placing data hubs next to renewable power generation like hydropower, Peder sees a future where we cut out the inefficiencies of long-distance energy transport. It’s not just an innovative way to go greener; it might actually be more profitable, too.
In our conversation, Peder shared how his background in shipping led him toward industrial real estate and eventually into building sustainable infrastructure. He talked about constructing not only traditional logistics centers but also robust fiber networks that connect rural regions with major tech hubs. One story that really caught my attention is how people in Labrador are repurposing heat from data centers and crypto mining rigs to warm local buildings.
I never imagined data-driven devices fueling greenhouses in subarctic climates, but that’s precisely the kind of out-of-the-box thinking Peder encourages. Beyond the tech details, I loved hearing about the deeper Nordic ethos. According to Peder, a strong sense of responsibility to future generations is woven into daily life in Norway—and all across the Nordic countries.
It’s not just a marketing slogan; it shapes the decisions people make, from personal routines to national policy. He believes that if more organizations and innovators around the world aligned profitability with sustainability, we’d see a much faster transition to cleaner energy and more efficient systems.
If you’re curious about how to marry environmental goals with profitable outcomes or if you’re just looking to see how data center “refineries” might help reinvent the way we power our digital lives—this episode is a must-listen. Peder’s passion and practical insight blew my mind.
I hope it inspires you to explore new ways we can all push the boundaries of innovation while protecting our planet for generations to come.
About Peder Naerboe
Name: Peder Naerboe
Title: Founder & Owner
Company: Bulk Infrastructure
LinkedIn | Website | Company LinkedIn Page |
Peder Naerboe is the Founder and Executive Chair of Bulk Infrastructure. Since starting Bulk in 2006, he and the company have been focused on bringing more sustainable builds and operations to society at the intersection of real estate and digital infrastructure, building a more sustainable future. In 2011, he expanded the company from logistics and industrial real estate into digital infrastructure.
Peder has been focused on unlocking the Renewable Energy Giants of the World (Nordics and Atlantic-Canada) to enable sustainable digital infrastructure as his top priority. He believes that long-term positive impact to the environment can be achieved when Sustainability does not compromise with Profitability for customers.
