Image 2, Data centre waste heat recovery concept

General description of the project:

In 2010, data centres world-wide used about 350 TWh of electricity. It is just over 1% of the world’s total electricity use and it is constantly growing. Most of the power consumed by the Information Technology (IT) equipment is converted into waste heat, which must be removed to avoid damage to the equipment. The energy requirement of the cooling system represents up to 40% of the overall data centre energy consumption. The ReUseHeat project worked in Brunswick on the use of datacentre's excess heat in the district heating network.

The ReUseHeat project, exemplified by the demonstration site in Braunschweig, Germany, showcases an innovative approach to sustainable heat utilization. Veolia's subsidiary, BS|ENERGY, spearheads the initiative, focusing on the recovery of waste heat from a neighboring data center. The primary objective is to implement a Low-Temperature District Heating Network (LTDHN) that efficiently harnesses excess heat from the data center and redistributes it for heating purposes in a newly developed residential area and two commercial units.

To address the challenge of the low temperature of the waste heat, the project employs a heat pump to elevate its temperature. Additionally, the construction and operation of a new LTDHN become essential components to facilitate the effective utilization of this low-temperature waste heat. State-of-the-art monitoring and control solutions are integrated to ensure seamless communication and efficient operation across all components of the system.

Despite facing delays due to the slower-than-expected scaling up of the data center, the project demonstrated notable achievements. Positive outcomes include exceeding expectations in primary energy savings and CO2 emissions reduction. However, there was a higher-than-anticipated electrical consumption, attributed to the reconfiguration of the hydraulic system for the heat pump. Notably, the payback period for the installation was shorter than initially projected, indicating a quicker return on investment.

Lessons learned from the Brunswick demonstration site emphasize the impact of distance on performance and costs, highlighting the necessity of LTDHN for waste heat recovery. The project's success underscores the potential for replicability in similar contexts, showcasing the viability of incorporating waste heat recovery into district heating networks for more sustainable energy practices.

Find more information here.

Heat recovery from data centres - Brunswick, Germany