提高效率：了解英国数据中心热量输出的潜在好处和陷阱

February 2024 Contents Introduction03 Executive summary04 Introduction to data centres06 What is district heating?07 How can data centres be part of the equation?08 Regulatory landscape09 Benefits and opportunities10 Unaddressed issues for Government and other stakeholders to consider21 Contacts23 Introduction District heating networks are widely seen as a low-carbon heating solution for cities andsemi-urban environments. Data centres, which play a vital role in the development of digitallyenabled cities and are frequently clustered in such regions, naturally generate heat as part oftheir operations. Given the need for heat in heat networks, integrating data centre heat intoheat networks should, in principle, be a simple equation. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) intends to introduce a regulatoryframework for heat networks to enable heat network zoning in towns and cities acrossEngland. Heat network zones will identify and designate zones where heat networks providethe lowest-cost, low-carbon heating option. In November 2023, it was announced that theGovernment’s plan is for data centres to be the next industry to feed into new heat networks.1 This techUK paper explores some of the opportunities, barriers, and successes of reusingdata centre residual heat, as well as outlines the benefits and risks of planning futurenetworks around the assumption of heat offtake from data centres. Executive summary While the integration of data centre heat into district heating networks inthe UK holds a significant promise, particularly when viewed through asustainability lens, addressing unexplored facets is essential to foster effectivecollaboration between data centres and heat network operators, and contributeto the broader net-zero objectives. The industry consensus is that residual heat reuse should ideally be exploredafter a data centre has been optimised from an energy point of view. In otherwords, data centres must first seek to reduce their energy consumption andthen recover heat whenever feasible. There are some key challenges that must be tackled before data centres scaleup heat export. Seasonal fluctuations and variable energy demand in the UKclimate present logistical hurdles for efficient heat distribution, necessitatingcareful planning and design. The proximity and availability of heat networks alsoplay a pivotal role in the feasibility of heat transfers, with data centres located incity centres having an advantage over larger outlying ones in industrial areas. Practical considerations regarding the functioning of data centres must alsobe taken into account. New data centres are planned with a projected IT loadin mind, but it can take years to reach this target as it is dependent on the timeit takes an operator to secure (and retain) customers. In other words, althoughdata centres often exhibit a large capacity for server space, they house fewactual servers in the first few years of their operations and their ability toproduce and export heat is therefore limited. Data centre operators have limitedcontrol over external factors such as occupancy levels, and relying on exportingthe majority of the potentially available heat based on the maximum projectedIT load carries a significant risk. Sustainability considerations addanother layer of complexity. While thereare notable benefits in terms of reducingelectricity consumption for coolingand addressing fuel poverty, cautionis warranted to ensure that thenecessary implementation of heatpumps for temperature control doesnot lead to a rise in energy usage andcarbon emissions. With data centres increasinglyembracing sustainability and innovationas key drivers, our members are waryof their potential limitations inmeaningfully participating in heatnetworks in the future. There is alsogrowing concern that, in some cases,this commitment could impede effortsto minimise energy consumption andaddress environmental concerns. In view of these unanswered questions,the data centre industry wants towork with the Government and otherstakeholders to ensure that there areagreed principles regarding the scopeof funding, ownership, operationand maintenance of heat networkinfrastructure connected to data centres. Introduction todata centres Data centres are specialised facilities that housecomputing equipment, primarily servers, andare equipped with a guaranteed power supplyand high bandwidth connectivity. They play apivotal role in consolidating IT functions fororganisations, supporting various aspects of themodern economy, including business processes,government services, telecommunications,transportation, and social networks. renewables, energy stewardship, reporting energyuse and customer transparency. Progress isslower in other areas, such as playing a moredynamic role in the electricity market, whereprojects are mainly at R&D or pilot stage. Successis elusive in the reuse of residual heat andusing embedded capacity to facilitate a