IKT and Related Sectors’ Employee Skills Development and Productivity Training Project.
Project No. 4.2.4.1/1/24/A/001
Baltic data center operator “Delska” has achieved a significant recognition by receiving the prestigious “Uptime Institute Tier III Design” certification for its new 10-megawatt data center project, “EU North Riga LV DC1.” This certification confirms the data center’s security, continuity, and at least 99.982% availability, further solidifying Latvia’s position as a reliable IT infrastructure service provider.
The data center, scheduled to open later this year, will be one of the most environmentally friendly in the Baltic region. It will operate entirely on wind energy, while its backup generators will run on “Neste MY” renewable diesel. Efficient cooling systems, including hot and cold aisles and direct liquid cooling for microchips, will ensure optimal performance for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, while maintaining a power usage effectiveness (PUE) coefficient below 1.3. The modular construction and 6,000 m² area allow for scalability, with potential expansion up to 30 MW.
“In a world where just a few minutes or even seconds of downtime can cost thousands, a Tier III certification means that our infrastructure will ensure online availability and business IT infrastructure continuity even during planned maintenance,” says Andris Gailītis, Chairman of the Board at “Delska.” This certification provides clients with confidence that their critical infrastructure is in safe hands and enhances the competitiveness of Latvian and Baltic data centers in the European market.
The data center is designed with the latest technologies in mind, providing up to 250 kW per rack for HPC and AI data processing. This infrastructure will enable the processing of large volumes of data at high speeds, driving innovation and research. The project is being built in accordance with “LEED” green building standards, ensuring energy efficiency and sustainability.
The “Delska” Tier III certification symbolizes the development of digital infrastructure in Latvia and the Baltic region, offering a full range of IT services, from server rentals to private and public cloud services, security and IT management solutions, as well as a wide network of on-site points across Europe. Global digitalization and the implementation of artificial intelligence are increasing demand for data center services, and “Delska”’s new center aligns with these trends by offering high energy efficiency and reliability.
The project strengthens Latvia’s reputation as a trusted technology partner, promotes high-value-added investments, innovation, and job creation. “EU North Riga LV DC1” is an important step in positioning Latvia as a leading high-performance and AI data center development hub in the Baltic region and Europe, fostering long-term growth and security in the digital economy.
Source: diena.lv
What is your experience in the industry, and what is the area of operation of SIA “Chili”?
My name is Rihards, and I’ve been a programmer for over 10 years. Currently, I work at “Chili Labs.”
Our company is an IT firm operating in the technology sector, specializing in mobile app development.
What challenges frequently arise in terms of professional development in the industry?
The key challenge is the desire to learn. There are people who are great at getting things done, and then there are those who are more dreamers. Dreamers are easy to talk to about technologies, coming up with new solutions, and they are generally interested in the creative process, which is also part of programming.
At the same time, there are people for whom it’s important to just be given a task. They are like bulldozers – you point them in one direction, and they charge through everything until their task is completed.
And then there are those who are somehow more valuable because, in addition to doing their jobs, they can look at the bigger picture – how things affect each other, how specific actions will impact larger processes, and so on.
How do you ensure that employees continuously develop their skills in the rapidly changing technology environment?
We don’t force anything on anyone, but in the industry, we are forced to adapt to new market trends and technologies that are just emerging in the world. Therefore, for someone to remain a competent developer, they must adapt to new trends, requirements, and technologies. Even without trying to push anyone, it is our responsibility as developers to stay updated on everything happening globally, follow the news, and incorporate it into our work and solutions.
What skills and competencies will be especially important for IT employees in the future?
I believe that programming at an abstract level is becoming easier. Artificial intelligence solutions now write a lot of the code for you, and programming languages are becoming more abstract and easier to read. Many programmers are starting to lose touch with what’s underneath – what’s “under the hood” – how it works, and why it works the way it does.
Most of our programmers can answer these questions, but when interviewing people, I increasingly see a tendency where they are not interested in this deeper level – why things happen the way they do and how they should happen.