Thursday, October 30, 2025
Electric Power Systems (EPS), a leading Austrian provider of power and cooling solutions for data centres, has unveiled its latest innovation — the Dendora modular data centre pod. This new development leverages cross-laminated timber (CLT) sourced from Binderholz, a well-known Austrian timber supplier, to create an environmentally-friendly and efficient solution for the growing demand for data infrastructure. The Dendora pods, aimed at reducing embodied carbon, are also designed to cut supply chain length by using locally sourced timber.
The Dendora modules are compact and versatile, providing between 10 kW and 40 kW of IT capacity. They employ energy-efficient free-cooling and low-global-warming-potential refrigerants like propane. Additionally, these pods are compatible with on-site solar generation, which adds to their sustainability credentials. One of the unique features of the Dendora pods is their ability to export waste heat to nearby buildings, improving overall site efficiency and promoting a circular approach to energy usage.
“Our vision was to develop a data centre based on renewable materials, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and thus make a tangible contribution to a more climate-friendly IT infrastructure,” said Josef Frühwirth, Managing Director of EPS. This commitment to sustainability is central to EPS’s mission, which seeks to provide green data infrastructure solutions that not only meet the industry’s increasing demand for data but do so in a way that has a minimal environmental impact.
Modular Timber Data Centres: A Sustainable Shift
EPS’s Dendora pods mark a significant shift in the design of data centres, which have traditionally been housed in metal containers. The move to timber-based structures is part of a broader trend in the industry where cross-laminated timber (CLT) and other mass-timber products are being trialled in low-carbon data centre projects. In countries like Sweden and Iceland, operators have already experimented with timber as a structural material for these critical infrastructure facilities. Some major tech firms are also starting to incorporate wood elements in their data centre designs.
The use of CLT in data centre construction has a number of advantages, primarily its ability to significantly reduce the embodied carbon of buildings. By choosing renewable materials like timber, data centre operators can contribute to sustainability goals without compromising on the structural integrity or efficiency of their facilities. The Dendora pods are a prime example of how these innovations are being incorporated into data centre infrastructure.
However, the use of timber in such applications is not without challenges. Safety and insurance concerns remain a key area of scrutiny. While timber is known for its predictable charring behaviour, some critics point to the fire safety risks associated with using timber in data centres. Past data centre fires involving timber have raised concerns, though advocates stress that engineered wood products like glulam and CLT are designed to retain load-bearing capacity when fire performance measures are properly implemented.
Fire Safety and Certification: Ensuring Confidence in Timber-Based Data Centres
EPS has addressed fire safety concerns by selecting materials that comply with relevant safety codes, implementing compartmentation, and ensuring that their designs meet stringent fire performance standards. While EPS did not provide independent test data at launch, they emphasised that the Dendora pods meet the necessary safety criteria for fire risk mitigation.
An independent fire-safety specialist remarked that engineered timber can perform reliably in various building types when designed to the correct standards. However, they stressed the importance of transparency regarding fire tests and recommended that test reports be made publicly available. They also advised involving insurers early in the design process to ensure that timber-based data centres can be widely adopted for mission-critical infrastructure.
“Publish the test reports and involve insurers early; that’s the only way to move timber from concept to widespread use in mission-critical infrastructure,” said the specialist.
Future of Timber in Data Centres: Certification and Demand
The launch of the Dendora pods is a significant step for EPS in broadening its portfolio. These modules expand the company’s range of data centre solutions beyond its traditional metal containerised units, which offer 12–58 kW capacity. Initial deliveries of the Dendora pods will target Austria and neighbouring countries, with a wider release contingent on demand and certification.
Timber has already begun to gain traction in the data centre sector, particularly for its environmental benefits. The use of mass timber structures in data centres is expected to grow as more industry players look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. EPS’s new Dendora pods represent a significant milestone in this shift, marking timber as a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials in the data centre industry.
Founded in 1998, EPS has a long history of providing integrated data-centre systems, including power, cooling, racks, cabling, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The company has completed projects for major clients, such as LAOLA1 in Vienna, Voestalpine Group, and Silicon Austria Labs, further cementing its position as a leader in the industry.
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Tags: CLT, data centre sustainability, Dendora, energy-efficient cooling, EPS, fire safety in data centres, timber-based data centre, woodworking industry, woodworking UK
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