Enhancing third-generation district heating networks with data centre waste heat recovery: analysis of a case study in Italy

In this study, the integration of waste heat from a Data Centre (DC) into a Third-Generation District Heating Network (DHN) is evaluated, showing the improvement in the environmental footprint of the DHN currently supplied by fossil fuels (combined heat and power devices fuelled by natural gas). DC serves as a source of low-grade thermal waste heat, which is upgraded to the required temperature for the DHN using high-temperature heat pumps. Energy analyses are conducted on an hourly basis, considering load profiles of the DHN derived from a real case study and varying thermal loads of the DC (100–500 kW). The key findings of the research are as follows: a non-integrated 100 kW DC produces 926 MWh/year of waste heat which is discharged into the surrounding environment (contributing to the urban heat island effect), in the integrated scenario the proportion of waste heat in the DHN energy mix ranges from 12 % to 59 % resulting in a reduction of gas consumption ranging from 11 % to 58 %. These results underscore the significant potential for energy savings and reduced fossil fuel consumption through the utilisation of waste heat from DCs in DHNs, enhancing the widespread decarbonisation of this sector.