Turning Data Centre Heat Into Community Energy
Why Ground Source Cooling & Heat Recovery Matters 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.
Utilising ground source/liquid cooling as an alternative to existing cooling technology, or as an add-on to reduce peak electrical demand, can improve resilience, and lower the carbon footprint of modern data centre sites.
There is also a real untapped opportunity in what happens to the excess heat produced within data centres. With ground source infrastructure, that waste heat can be captured, stored, and distributed into local heat networks.
In a report for the Greater London Authority, AECOM estimates that London’s data centres emit enough waste heat to warm up to around half a million homes per year.
For operators, this transforms waste into value: cutting carbon, strengthening ESG credentials, and building closer ties with surrounding communities.
Benefits of Ground-Coupled Hydraulic Cooling for Data Centres
Electrical efficiency
Stable 10-14°C ground temperatures support higher seasonal performance than air-cooled systems. No exposure to ambient spikes or defrost cycles. Lower total electrical demand.
Peak load reduction
The ground acts as a thermal sink, reducing peak cooling loads and easing grid connection pressure. Supports phased expansion and long-term capacity planning.
Operational resilience
Buried infrastructure is protected from weather and temperature extremes. Ground arrays last 100+ years, providing stable, long-life cooling infrastructure.
Low-carbon cooling
Lower electricity use means lower Scope 2 emissions. Captured heat can feed local heat networks, turning rejected heat into value.
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 district heat network.
Smart balance
Maintain cooling efficiency for the data centre while turning a by-product into a local clean energy asset.
Benefits of Ground Source 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.
Why Partner with Genius Energy Lab for Data Centre Projects
Here at Genius Energy Lab, our role is to de-risk the integration of GSHP and heat network design: from feasibility and modelling through to detailed system design. We understand the commercial, regulatory, and technical realities, ensuring that projects are delivered with cost certainty and long-term performance in mind.
We don’t install; we design. That means we work in partnership with data centre operators, contractors, and local authorities to unlock shared value. With two decades of experience in GSHP design, feasibility, and network integration, we help operators turn waste heat into a strategic advantage and a community asset.