Power and automation technology group ABB has won a $11-million order from Facebook's subsidiary Pinnacle Sweden, to power its first server facility outside the US.

ABB will build two high- and medium-voltage air- and gas-insulated switchgear substations that will supply power to a data centre being built in Lulea, a coastal town in northern Sweden, a press statement said.

The construction of Facebook's data centre will be carried out in three phases. The facility will consist of three server buildings with a total area of 84,000 sq.mt. The first building is scheduled to become operational in December next year. ABB will also install substation automation systems, the statement said.

“The substations are designed to handle the high electricity demand of such facilities,” Mr Peter Leupp, head of ABB's Power Systems division, said.

Located near the Arctic Circle, Lulea's cold climate is well suited for the natural cooling of server buildings. That apart, a stable supply of clean energy from renewable sources as well as reliable communications and electricity networks, drove Facebook to chose Lulea to set up its data centre, the statement said.

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