Data 4French data center market operators and investors have signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Paris-Saclay to launch a prototype experiment to reuse part of the heat generated by data centers.
This ground-breaking project will launch in the Paris Region in early 2024.
Driven by the French government’s “Conseil Départemental de l’Essonne” (which establishes the ABIOMAS Innovation Chair at the university) and the Paris-Saclay University Foundation, the program will be led by a multidisciplinary and multiskilled team (biomass experts), digital , AI, physics/chemistry, economics, etc.), digital, AI, physics/chemistry, economics, etc.) bring together various experts.
In the face of exponential growth in digital technology and the amount of data stored in data centers (growing 35% annually globally), the environmental efforts of industry players must meet the challenge.
Data4 Group has been working on this issue for many years and is taking concrete and effective action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with scopes 1, 2 and 3.
This new R&D project responds to the strategic challenge of reusing the heat generated by data centers. In fact, to prevent heat loss, several reuse options are currently being studied, such as the most widespread one for heating nearby homes. However, this solution only utilizes 20% of the heat generated.
That’s why Data4 is looking at new ways to reuse this heat, such as recreating the natural photosynthesis mechanism by using some of the captured CO2 to grow algae, recycling it as biomass to develop new circular energy sources, and regenerating it. Used in manufacturing biological products in other industries (cosmetics, agricultural products, etc.).
Patrick Duvaut, Vice-President of the University of Paris-Saclay and Chairman of the Paris-Saclay Foundation, said: “As part of the ABIOMAS Chair of the Paris-Saclay University Foundation, we have carried out a feasible project with the start-up Blue Planet Ecosystem. In a new study, Saclay, we have been able to calculate that the efficiency of this carbon capture can be 20 times higher than that of trees (for the same surface area).”
Linda Lescuyer, Innovation Manager at Data4, said: “This enhanced biomass program addresses two of the main challenges of our time: food security and the energy transition. This requires close collaboration between all actors in the Essonne region, including Data4, to develop a A true industrial ecology project aimed at pooling resources and reducing consumption in the area. Thanks to the collaboration with the Paris-Saclay University Foundation, we have the opportunity to leverage one of the most prestigious scientific communities in the world in our efforts towards a circular energy economy Common goal.”
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