Utilising Data Centres’ Side Streams

This article investigates the different challenges and phases of building an ecosystem to utilise data centre waste heat. Data centres consume an increasing amount of energy, and currently, in many cases, excess heat is not utilised beyond heating the data centre property. The research examines how a circular economy can be integrated into the operations of a data centre’s waste heat business ecosystem and how a business ecosystem based on utilising waste heat from a data centre should be built. The research is based on a literature review, interviews with experts and stakeholders in the case ecosystem and a survey. Based on the research, a concept for a business ecosystem based on the utilisation of waste heat from a pre-existing data centre perspective is modelled, and the concept outlines things to be considered when building such an ecosystem. Key findings were the challenges, opportunities and prerequisites of developing a data centre waste heat ecosystem and the roadmap of constructing one.