Unlocking the Potential of Waste Heat from London’s Data Centres
A recent report by AECOM reveals that London’s data centres are emitting enough waste heat to warm up to half a million homes annually, but a significant amount of this energy is currently being wasted.
The study, commissioned by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and developed in collaboration with HermeticaBlack, estimates that up to 1.6 TWh of heat could be recovered each year from the city’s data centre infrastructure. This amount of heat is equivalent to fulfilling all heating and hot water needs for the entire borough of Ealing.
The report, titled Optimising Data Centres in London: Heat Reuse, proposes various policy recommendations to encourage data centre operators to make use of this excess heat. These suggestions include updating planning guidelines, offering targeted incentives for infrastructure development, and establishing a standardized framework for designing data centres with heat reuse in mind.
According to the report, cities like Geneva are already utilizing up to 95% of the waste heat generated by data centres. By implementing similar strategies in London, it is estimated that the recovered heat could potentially supply around 350,000 to 500,000 homes, helping to address fuel poverty and reduce reliance on gas boilers.
With the increasing demand for high-performance computing, data centres are producing higher-quality waste heat that can be effectively utilized through heat networks. Asad Kwaja, Associate Director at AECOM, emphasizes the importance of considering data centres as a part of the broader energy ecosystem rather than just energy consumers.
One of the early initiatives in London involves the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), which secured government funding for a heat network designed to recover heat from data centres. This project is expected to deliver significant energy savings and reduce carbon emissions.
The key to maximizing the potential of waste heat from data centres lies in aligning planning policies, procurement strategies, and investment incentives to make heat reuse a standard practice. By leveraging the excess heat generated by data centres, London has the opportunity to transition towards a more sustainable and locally sourced heating solution, benefitting both the environment and the community.
