ST. CLOUD — A St. Cloud data center is receiving $100,000 to cut energy costs.

Vaultas, 3701 18th St. S., will receive the money thanks to a startup matching project in Grid Catalyst's latest annual clean energy accelerator program, according to a news release from Grid Catalyst.

The funding will allow Vaultas to use Rochester-based LiquidCool Solutions to eliminate internal fans and cut energy by 30%, according to Grid Catalyst.

“Until (you) build a data center, you don’t realize the cost and the size and the impact on the budget (that) cooling requires. Because when energy is used, heat is generated and we got to cool it down,” said Vaultas President John Unger.

LiquiCool Solutions combines direct-to-chip total immersion cooling that can save Vaultas up to 40% of its bottom line, Unger said.

About the company

Unger launched Vaultas in 2010. Vaultas has headquarters in Alexandria, and additional data centers in Alexandria, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Milwaukee.

The data center services small- to medium-sized businesses, mid-market, enterprise and large companies.

“We’re family-owned, we’re a little bit of a niche player to some of the competitors,” Unger said. "Some of our competitors are owned by multi-billion-dollar corporations.”

Other projects

The program is funded through the Minnesota Energy Alley, which is allocated dollars by the state, according to Nina Axelson, Grid Catalyst's founder and president. The program aims to support the adoption of emerging technologies and economic development.