Data Centre Waste Heat Warms 4000 Homes

Quick Smiles:

• West London project captures waste heat from data centre for efficient home heating.
• Systems achieve 264% efficiency, surpassing traditional gas boilers.
• Aims for net-zero carbon from day one and energy positive future.

A pioneering west London initiative uses waste heat from the Mopac Tower data centre, Tube tunnels, and local sources to deliver low-carbon heating to 4,000 homes and a vibrant new commercial district.

An ambient loop network circulates low-temperature water through underground pipes, with building-level heat pumps raising it to usable levels for heating and hot water.

The 44-acre, £8bn Earl’s Court development represents one of the UK’s largest such systems, largely privately funded with minimal public grants.

“The development aims to be operationally net-zero carbon from day one, with a goal to eventually be energy positive, exporting low-carbon heat to nearby communities,” says Peter Runacres, head of urban futures at the Earl’s Court Development Company.

The design boasts inherent resilience, featuring a backup plant, three interlinked loops to keep two-thirds operational during failures, and large storage tanks for demand peaks.

Sutton noted the system has “inherent resilience”, with a back-up plant, three interlinked loops so two-thirds stay online if one fails, and large storage tanks that absorb peaks in demand.

Because it runs on ambient temperature water rather than high-pressure heat, she added, it proves less vulnerable than older networks.

All buildings in the masterplan can opt to connect, with plans to extend across boroughs to combat fuel poverty.

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