Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System TechnologyEnergy Efficiency in Data Centers Through Innovative Cooling Technologies and Optimized Waste Heat Utilization
ERIKA develops scalable solutions for integrating data center waste heat into heating networks, combining innovative cooling technologies, digital twins, and AI-driven operational optimization.
Challenge
The rising energy demand of data centers is placing a strain on climate-neutral energy systems. At the same time, a significant source of potential remains untapped: waste heat.
Integration into heating networks has often been hindered by low temperatures, technical obstacles, and economic uncertainties.
The goal is to make efficient use of waste heat, increase system performance, and create scalable solutions.
Methodology & Application
The following are used for analysis and optimization:
- Digital models of the data center and heating network
- Thermohydraulic simulations
- Techno-economic analyses
- AI-supported methods for operational optimization
These enable a realistic assessment of system behavior, operational strategies, and integration scenarios.
The approaches are validated under real-world conditions in a demonstrator consisting of:
- A liquid-cooled server system
- A heat pump
- Thermal storage
- Connection to a heating network
Impact
This project serves as a suitable model for the heating transition and helps to:
- Increase energy efficiency
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Integrate waste heat into climate-neutral heating systems
