Data centres generate heat which, with the right infrastructure, can be put to productive use. But recovering the heat is only one part of the equation. For heat reuse to work in practice, the right infrastructure, local demand, commercial agreements and long-term planning must all come together.
At GreenScale, one of our 12 sustainability commitments is to design all our data centres for heat export. This involves, amongst other things, ensuring that there are connection points and equipment that can be integrated with external heat recovery systems. However, without a viable local consumer – be it a district heating network, a business or a public facility – heat recovery projects will not work.
That is why we are going one step further and actively seeking potential consumers for our surplus heat. As part of this, we are pleased to announce that we are joining a project group alongside Sirdal Municipality and Statnett to explore how combining surplus heat from multiple sources can provide a larger and more robust heat supply and help attract a new operator capable of utilising it locally. We have also engaged Thema Consulting to develop a business model that will form the basis for discussions with potential heat users regarding commercial viability.
The potential is significant. By utilising surplus heat productively, we can help support new local businesses, create jobs and contribute to a more efficient energy system.