April 2024, Germany: The city of Norderstedt is repurposing waste heat from a data center into a district heating network. The project utilizes heat pumps from Carrier, providing up to 6.8 million kWh to the grid.
The heat pumps offer a maximum cooling capacity of 1.2MW and a heating capacity of over 1.8MW. The system redirects waste heat from cooling, reducing reliance on natural gas. A recirculating air cooler maintains a stable ambient temperature of 30°C (86°F).
This setup enhances waste heat recovery by connecting directly to the refrigerant cycle. The project serves as a test case for future deployments at other data centers. Germany is prioritizing data center connections to district heating networks, with the Energy Efficiency Act setting quotas for waste heat reuse.