Trial Scheme to Heat Homes Using a Data Centre

Aiming for Net Zero Heating

We really like this BBC News article and suggest it as recommended reading: “Data centre in the shed reduces energy bills to £40”. It’s all about innovation and sustainable, renewable energy.

It neatly follows on from our last blog about data centres in space. We mentioned the problem of how to cool computers as they generate heat. Data centres use around 30% of their electricity consumption to keep cool hence the very cold temperatures in space negate the need for cooling.

Featured in the BBC article is a trial project developed by Thermify where heat is generated for a home using a data centre in their garden shed. The heat generated is captured by oil then transferred into a hot water system. You can read about Thermify’s ‘Smart Green Solution’ at thermify.how-it-works. Thermify say they have developed: “A radical new solution to replace gas boilers and generate new revenue from cloud computing.”

The BBC article also mentions other innovative schemes in development including a project by Deep Green where a swimming pool in Devon is being warmed by a washing machine-sized digital boiler and a proposal, again by Deep Green, to build the Melbourn Energy Superloop, a combined solar-powered data centre and district heat network. Deep Green’s ethos is to: “Reuse energy for the benefit of everyone. Reduce environmental impact wherever we can. Remove residual carbon with active resilient projects”. To find out more go to: deepgreen.energy.

As analysts and programmers we have to love clever, innovative, ‘symbiosis’. These recent developments are rather encouraging.