• Ongoing Projects
• Optimised use of decentralised waste heat potential from data centres and electrolysers

For the energy transition to succeed, the various sectors – electricity, heating, mobility, industry and, increasingly, digital infrastructures – must be more closely interlinked. To date, however, the planning of energy generation and energy consumption systems has usually been considered separately. As a result, important synergies are not being utilised and efficiency potential is being lost.

Why is integrated site planning crucial?

System integration: Different energy sources and infrastructures are not considered and controlled in isolation, but as part of an overall system. For example, the waste heat from a data centre can contribute to the supply of heating networks. Or the electricity for electrolysers can be used specifically at times of high renewable feed-in.

At present, the planning of energy-generating and energy-consuming plants is still not sufficiently integrated. In particular, the locations of data centres and electrolysers are rarely chosen from the perspective of system integration. As a result, economic opportunities that could arise from harmonised location and grid planning are lost.

The project aims to scrutinise this process. Based on reference municipalities, the extent to which it is possible to select a location with a view to the overall system and, in particular, with a view to optimising waste heat utilisation will be investigated.

The project’s approach is based on a three-stage process:

1. A preliminary study provides an overview of the techno-economic and institutional issues surrounding the siting of plants with waste heat potential and, in particular, their connection to electricity, hydrogen, heat and data networks.
2. Further information on the state of the art, the various strategies and possible synergies of sector coupling will be determined in a series of workshops with the stakeholders involved.
3. The technical and economic boundary conditions for a system-orientated choice of location will be determined for two reference municipalities. The question is whether it makes more economic sense to invest in additional lines for electricity, heat and data and to operate smaller data centres with waste heat utilisation. Or whether it would be more favourable to build new heat generation plants instead. In other words, to provide the heat that could otherwise have been used as waste heat from data centres or electrolysers.

The aim of the project is to influence the criteria for the choice of location in the data centre and hydrogen industry.

The project manager is the Agency for Renewable Energies e.V. (AEE)