Data centers make heat all year long – here’s how the ground can hold onto it until winter
Rocks deep underground can be used to hold heat until it’s needed.
Geothermal systems store heat from data centers underground during the summer for use during the cooler months, allowing buildings to benefit from the consistent temperature deep within the Earth. Epic Systems, a health software company, has implemented this innovative approach on its campus in Verona, Wisconsin, by drilling approximately 6,100 wells ranging from 300 to 800 feet deep. These wells use waste heat from a 3.5-megawatt data center to heat and cool about 40 buildings on the campus.
The unique aspect of Epic's system is its ability to store excess heat during the summer months, rather than simply using it to cool buildings in the winter. This is achieved by pumping water heated by the servers deep underground, where it warms the surrounding rock. The rock, being an excellent insulator, retains the heat for months, slowly releasing it back into the ground as temperatures drop in winter.
The stored heat in the ground isn't enough to generate electricity, but it is highly efficient for warming buildings. The water returns to the surface as lukewarm, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. Epic has expanded this system over time by drilling more wells to accommodate the growing amount of heat generated by its data center.
While geothermal systems have been used for electricity generation by harnessing heat from deep within the Earth, storing heat underground for heating buildings represents a new approach. This method not only reduces energy consumption but also offers a sustainable solution to the challenge of seasonal heating demands.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
