Data centers consume large amounts of electricity, almost all of which is released as heat. For a long time, this heat was considered a loss. Currently, operators are beginning to reuse this resource for heating homes, supplying centralized heating networks, as well as heating greenhouses and fish farms.
The editorial reports that new regulations and incentive mechanisms in European countries are encouraging data centers to transfer their excess heat to urban infrastructure. In cities like Stockholm and Helsinki, the heat from servers is currently used to heat thousands of apartments, and this practice is expanding.
According to expert assessments, the reuse of excess heat in cold climate zones can reduce the energy demand of data centers by 10–30%, and in some cases, create an additional source of income. This approach not only reduces cooling costs for the centers but also provides a cheaper heating option for communities.
From Nordic countries to university campuses, server rooms in various locations are gradually transforming into neighborhood heating plants. Thus, digital infrastructure is beginning to play a role not only as an information source but also as a local energy source, contributing to the reduction of overall emissions.