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Future views on waste heat utilization – Case of data centers in Northern Europe

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  • Wahlroos, Mikko
  • Pärssinen, Matti
  • Rinne, Samuli
  • Syri, Sanna
  • Manner, Jukka

Abstract

In this study the potential for data center waste heat utilization was analyzed in the Nordic countries. An overview of upcoming data center projects where waste heat is utilized is presented. Especially in Finland data center operators are planning to reuse waste heat in district heating. However, business models between the district heating network operator and data center operator are often not transparent. The implications of economics and emissions on waste heat utilization in district heating were analyzed through life cycle assessment. Currently the biggest barriers for utilizing waste heat are the low quality of waste heat (e.g. low temperature or unstable source of heat) and high investment costs. A systematic 8-step change process was suggested to ensure success in changing the priority of waste heat utilization in the data center and district heating market. Relevant energy efficiency metrics were introduced to support rational decision-making in the reuse of waste heat. Economic calculations showed that the investment payback time is under the estimated lifetime of the heat pump equipment, when waste heat was utilized in district heating. However, the environmental impact of waste heat utilization depends on the fuel, which waste heat replaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Wahlroos, Mikko & Pärssinen, Matti & Rinne, Samuli & Syri, Sanna & Manner, Jukka, 2018. "Future views on waste heat utilization – Case of data centers in Northern Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P2), pages 1749-1764.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:82:y:2018:i:p2:p:1749-1764
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.10.058
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Haoran & Hou, Juan & Hong, Tianzhen & Ding, Yuemin & Nord, Natasa, 2021. "Energy, economic, and environmental analysis of integration of thermal energy storage into district heating systems using waste heat from data centres," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    2. Isazadeh, Amin & Ziviani, Davide & Claridge, David E., 2023. "Global trends, performance metrics, and energy reduction measures in datacom facilities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    3. Hering, Dominik & Xhonneux, André & Müller, Dirk, 2021. "Design optimization of a heating network with multiple heat pumps using mixed integer quadratically constrained programming," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    4. Jodeiri, A.M. & Goldsworthy, M.J. & Buffa, S. & Cozzini, M., 2022. "Role of sustainable heat sources in transition towards fourth generation district heating – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    5. Köfinger, M. & Schmidt, R.R. & Basciotti, D. & Terreros, O. & Baldvinsson, I. & Mayrhofer, J. & Moser, S. & Tichler, R. & Pauli, H., 2018. "Simulation based evaluation of large scale waste heat utilization in urban district heating networks: Optimized integration and operation of a seasonal storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1161-1174.
    6. Paiho, Satu & Saastamoinen, Heidi, 2018. "How to develop district heating in Finland?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 668-676.
    7. Herbes, Carsten & Halbherr, Verena & Braun, Lorenz, 2018. "Factors influencing prices for heat from biogas plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 308-318.
    8. Khosravi, A. & Laukkanen, T. & Vuorinen, V. & Syri, S., 2021. "Waste heat recovery from a data centre and 5G smart poles for low-temperature district heating network," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    9. Lu, Tao & Lü, Xiaoshu & Välisuo, Petri & Zhang, Qunli & Clements-Croome, Derek, 2024. "Innovative approaches for deep decarbonization of data centers and building space heating networks: Modeling and comparison of novel waste heat recovery systems for liquid cooling systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    10. Du, Han & Zhou, Xinlei & Nord, Natasa & Carden, Yale & Ma, Zhenjun, 2023. "A new data mining strategy for performance evaluation of a shared energy recovery system integrated with data centres and district heating networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    11. Hou, Juan & Li, Haoran & Nord, Natasa & Huang, Gongsheng, 2023. "Model predictive control for a university heat prosumer with data centre waste heat and thermal energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    12. Lund, Henrik & Østergaard, Poul Alberg & Chang, Miguel & Werner, Sven & Svendsen, Svend & Sorknæs, Peter & Thorsen, Jan Eric & Hvelplund, Frede & Mortensen, Bent Ole Gram & Mathiesen, Brian Vad & Boje, 2018. "The status of 4th generation district heating: Research and results," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 147-159.
    13. Arnaudo, Monica & Dalgren, Johan & Topel, Monika & Laumert, Björn, 2021. "Waste heat recovery in low temperature networks versus domestic heat pumps - A techno-economic and environmental analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    14. Jakub Szymiczek & Krzysztof Szczotka & Marian Banaś & Przemysław Jura, 2022. "Efficiency of a Compressor Heat Pump System in Different Cycle Designs: A Simulation Study for Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Resources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, July.
    15. Hiltunen, Pauli & Syri, Sanna, 2021. "Low-temperature waste heat enabling abandoning coal in Espoo district heating system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    16. Huang, Yongping & Deng, Zilong & Chen, Yongping & Zhang, Chengbin, 2023. "Performance investigation of a biomimetic latent heat thermal energy storage device for waste heat recovery in data centers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    17. Dominković, Dominik Franjo & Wahlroos, Mikko & Syri, Sanna & Pedersen, Allan Schrøder, 2018. "Influence of different technologies on dynamic pricing in district heating systems: Comparative case studies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 136-148.
    18. Huang, Pei & Copertaro, Benedetta & Zhang, Xingxing & Shen, Jingchun & Löfgren, Isabelle & Rönnelid, Mats & Fahlen, Jan & Andersson, Dan & Svanfeldt, Mikael, 2020. "A review of data centers as prosumers in district energy systems: Renewable energy integration and waste heat reuse for district heating," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    19. Deepak, K. & Varma, V.B. & Prasanna, G. & Ramanujan, R.V., 2019. "Hybrid thermomagnetic oscillator for cooling and direct waste heat conversion to electricity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 312-320.
    20. Lygnerud, Kristina & Werner, Sven, 2018. "Risk assessment of industrial excess heat recovery in district heating systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 430-441.

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