Deep Green, a London-based startup, has unveiled ambitious plans to heat between 100-150 swimming pools across the UK by repurposing recycled heat from data centers. The company recently secured a substantial £200 million investment from Octopus Energy to accelerate the implementation of its innovative solution.
Deep Green’s unique approach involves installing compact data centers at energy-intensive locations, such as leisure center facilities, and utilizing the waste heat generated by the computers to warm water for the site.
Innovative Technology:
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Deep Green’s system introduces a symbiotic relationship between its servers and the host site. The waste heat from the data center computers is transformed into hot water for the facility, providing free heating, while the cold water from the site is redirected to cool the cloud servers.
This innovative setup gives Deep Green’s washing machine-sized data centers a significant advantage over traditional server rooms, which typically expend up to 40% of their energy on cooling alone.
Revenue Model:
The startup generates revenue by offering energy-efficient computing space to customers engaged in applications such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, video rendering, and cloud applications. Deep Green’s founder and CEO, Mark Bjornsgaard, emphasizes the energy efficiency of their data centers, stating that they support local communities by providing free heat.
Cost Savings and Environmental Impact:
Deep Green’s technology has already demonstrated significant cost savings for its clients. A public swimming pool in Devon reduced its pool-heating bill by over 60% using the system. The unique tech involves submerging data center computers in mineral oil, capturing heat from the machines.
The heat is then processed through a heat exchanger and transferred into the water, with temperature adjustments made only when necessary. According to Deep Green, this system can cut a pool’s gas requirements by over 62%, save £20,000 annually, and reduce carbon emissions by 25.8 tonnes.
Scaling Up Operations:
Buoyed by the recent £200 million investment, Deep Green now aims to expand its technology to heat as many as 150 additional swimming pools nationwide. The company estimates that if just 1% of the UK’s current data center demand ran on its servers, it could provide heating for every pool in the country. Furthermore, Deep Green envisions broader applications beyond leisure centers, including deployment in district heat networks to warm homes.
Future Prospects:
Deep Green’s innovative solution aligns with emerging trends in sustainable technology. The company’s spokesperson revealed plans to target organizations with consistent heat needs and encouraged more corporations to adopt their servers. Notably, a similar scheme was announced in London last year, connecting 10,000 new homes to nearby data centers to utilize waste energy for heating.
Conclusion:
Deep Green’s successful funding round and pioneering technology mark a significant stride toward revolutionizing pool heating and addressing the environmental concerns associated with data center energy consumption.
The intersection of innovation, sustainability, and economic viability positions Deep Green as a trailblazer in reshaping the way we think about and utilize excess heat from technology infrastructure. As the company scales its operations, the potential for positive impact on both the environment and communities across the UK becomes increasingly apparent.