Turning Data Centre Heat Into Community Energy
Why GSHPs Matter for Data Centres
Data centres are expanding fast - there are almost 500 in the UK today with some analyses placing the UK as the third-largest nation for data centres behind the US and Germany.
As they proliferate, so too do questions around their energy use and carbon footprint. Cooling systems in modern data centres is already highly efficient: the real untapped opportunity lies in what happens to the heat they produce. With ground source infrastructure, that waste heat can be captured, stored, and distributed into local heat networks.
For operators, this transforms waste into value: cutting carbon, strengthening ESG credentials, and building closer ties with surrounding communities.
How Data Centre Heat Recovery Works with GSHPs
Heat recovery
Capture the waste heat from servers and cooling systems.
Ground source integration
Feed that heat into underground boreholes or aquifers, turning the ground into a seasonal energy store.
District distribution
Reuse the recovered heat to supply nearby homes, businesses, or public buildings via a 5th-generation heat network.
Smart balance
Maintain cooling efficiency for the data centre while turning a by-product into a local clean energy asset.
Benefits of GSHP Heat Recovery for Data Centres
Energy efficiency
Recovered heat offsets the need for gas or electric boilers in connected buildings.
Carbon reduction
Cuts emissions for both the operator and the community by replacing fossil-fuelled heating.
Cost certainty
Provides stable, predictable energy costs for end users.
ESG value
Tangible decarbonisation action that strengthens reputation with investors, regulators, and local communities.
Real-World Examples of Data Centre Heat Networks
One of the UK’s first large-scale projects is underway at Old Oak & Park Royal in West London, where waste heat from nearby data centres will supply a new district heat network. The scheme is designed to provide around 95 GWh of low-carbon heat each year, enough to serve 10,000 new homes and 250,000m² of commercial space. Backed by government funding, the project shows how a resource once seen as a liability can become critical local energy infrastructure.
Across Europe, the potential is even bigger. According to the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA), waste heat from data centres could provide up to 221 TWh annually by 2025: equivalent to 12% of total EU heating demand. Many facilities already sit within a short distance of existing or planned heat networks, making them ideal candidates for integration.
Together, these examples show that with the right design, data centre heat can cut carbon, reduce costs, and power whole neighbourhoods.
Where Data Centre Heat Recovery Fits Best
Urban clusters
Well-suited to city-centre sites where heat demand is dense.
Mixed-use developments
Ideal for schemes combining residential, commercial, and public buildings.
Local authorities
Offers a credible pathway to integrate data centres into municipal net zero strategies.
Smaller distributed centres
Emerging “house-sized” data centres can plug directly into local neighbourhood networks.
