Volume 68

Optimal dispatch of SOFC-based CCHP systems for data centers with cooling-side flexibility Zishan Yin, Zixuan Zhang, Zhuo Wang, Xi Li

Abstract

The rapid growth of data center energy demand has intensified the need for efficient and low-carbon energy supply. While SOFC-based combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) systems and data center cooling flexibility have been widely studied, their joint optimization within a unified framework remains limited. This study develops an SOFC-based CCHP model that integrates electricity supply, waste-heat-driven cooling, and cooling flexibility into a coordinated optimization framework. The results show that SOFC-integrated coordinated electricity–cooling operation can reduce operating cost and grid dependency while improving energy utilization.

Keywords data centers, solid oxide fuel cells, combined cooling heating and power, waste heat utilization, energy system optimization