Denmark and other Nordic countries have long been a magnet for power-hungry industries because of their renewable energy resources such as hydropower and wind. They are now also attracting tech companies because of the potential to generate electricity relatively cheaply from renewable sources.

Apple had originally planned to build two data centres in Denmark powered by wind and biomass. The first phase of construction of original data centre near the town of Viborg is due to be completed later this year.

"As we near completion of our new Viborg data centre in central Jutland, Denmark, we’ve decided to focus on growing that site instead of building an additional data centre in Aabanraa," the company said on Tuesday.

Apple said in 2017 that it had bought 285 hectares of land for the second site at Aabenraa near the German border.

The Viborg site includes an energy substation and the data hall for the centre.

Apple has pledged to back the Paris climate accord by switching to renewable energy.

(Reporting by Andreas Mortensen; Editing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Jane Merriman)