A leisure center in Exmouth in southwest England has found an innovative way to heat its indoor swimming pool by utilizing a small data center.
This trial project aims to reduce energy bills and the center's carbon footprint by capturing heat generated by computer servers, according to a report by AFP.
Reducing Dependence on Gas Boilers
The technology, developed by UK-based company Deep Green, enables the swimming pool to reach its required temperature for approximately 65 percent of the time, significantly reducing the dependence on gas boilers.
The excess heat produced by the computers is captured using an on-site installation, and it is then transferred to the pool through a heat exchanger.
Mark Bjornsgaard, the CEO of Deep Green, describes the relationship between the data center and the swimming pool as symbiotic. While Deep Green covers its own electricity costs, it provides the captured heat to the pool free of charge. In return, the computers in the data center are effectively cooled by the pool's cold water.
Traditionally, data centers release excess heat into the atmosphere, wasting around 99 percent of it. Bjornsgaard explains that Deep Green's technology avoids this waste by using mineral oil to capture the heat, offering an environmentally friendly alternative.
Furthermore, the cooling costs typically account for about half of a data center's operational expenses, which Deep Green eliminates, making the solution more sustainable and cost-effective.
Peter Gilpin, the CEO of LED Community Leisure, the organization responsible for running the leisure center, acknowledges the significance of implementing the Deep Green technology. Rising energy prices due to geopolitical events prompted them to seek alternatives.
By installing the data center, they have already witnessed reductions in gas consumption and significant savings in energy costs. This solution not only benefits their finances but also helps to reduce their carbon footprint.
Gilpin expresses pride in being the first site to deploy Deep Green's technology and reveals plans to explore its installation in their other swimming pool facilities.
Attracting Interest
The success of this project has attracted considerable interest, with numerous potential sites across Europe expressing a desire to adopt this environmentally friendly and cost-efficient solution, according to AFP's report.
In addition, more companies are considering Deep Green computers as an alternative to conventional cloud providers due to their affordability and eco-friendliness.
Bjornsgaard highlights the social impact of their technology, stating that it not only offers cost savings but also contributes to the sustainability of facilities like swimming pools.
With increasing demand and the opportunity to make a positive difference, Deep Green aims to expand its reach and help more organizations reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.
As the trial progresses, the Exmouth leisure center's experience with this small data center's heat-capturing capabilities serves as a promising example of sustainable innovation in the energy sector.
