Volume 61

Feasibility of Data Centre Waste Heat Recovery for Industrial Space Heating: Turkey Case Study Juan Pablo Santana, Angela Pizzirani, Amirhossein Salemi, Azin Farzam, Muhammad Talha Jahangir, Iván Acosta-Pazmiño, João Gomes

Abstract

This study investigates the feasibility of reutilising waste heat from data centres (DCs) for district heating (DH) networks, focusing on a case study in Turkey. As DCs continue to expand globally, their significant energy consumption, particularly for cooling, presents both a challenge and an opportunity for sustainable energy solutions. The research evaluates the technical, economic, and environmental viability of integrating DC waste heat into DH systems using a MATLAB-based simulation tool. Key parameters such as server efficiency, heat exchanger performance, and network losses are analysed to determine the potential for heat recovery. Economic assessments include calculations of the Return on Investment and Payback Period, while environmental benefits are quantified through reductions in COâ‚‚ emissions. The results indicate that while the system offers technical and environmental benefits by recovering 78,358 kWh of heat annually and reducing COâ‚‚ emissions by 15,672 kg. However, its economic viability is low, with a 66.3-year payback period. This study concludes that for such projects to be successful, they must be implemented under optimal conditions, including using more efficient servers, minimising pipeline distances, and establishing cost-sharing models. The developed MATLAB tool can assess similar future projects to identify optimal locations with a high density of heat consumers.

Keywords Data centre cooling, waste heat recovery, District Heating, energy saving, feasibility calculation, space heating.