Veolia Energia Poznan and Beyond.pl intend to recover waste heat generated by servers

Veolia Energia Poznan and Beyond.pl, a data center, cloud, and Managed Services provider, have commenced collaboration on a project aimed to recover waste heat generated in Beyond.pl’s Data Center Campus located in Poznan, Poland. The letter of intent signed by the companies structures cooperation surrounding a feasibility study aimed at reusing thermal energy produced within the data center infrastructure to feed the city’s district heating network. This innovative solution will provide a source of low-emission heat for Poznan’s residents, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and improve the energy efficiency of the district heating infrastructure.

The joint project between Veolia and Beyond.pl aims to recover heat generated by servers operating in the operator’s data centers, focusing on cutting-edge solutions dedicated for Artificial Intelligence. The initiative involves the construction and operation of an advanced waste heat recovery solution, to efficiently make use of the byproduct of data processing. The key element of the solution stems from the combination of next-generation high-density servers with industrial-grade heat pumps, which will enable the supply of heat to the district heating network at the required parameters.

Recovered heat will serve as a source of low-emission energy for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in Poznan, the capital of the Greater Poland region. As a result of the collaboration between Veolia and Beyond.pl, a new heat source can be harnessed in the southeastern part of Poznan with a thermal capacity of approximately 30 MW in the project’s 1^st phase. The reduction of CO2 emissions from the solution is estimated by approximately 52,500 tons annually and the reduction in water requirement by approximately 76,500 cubic meters annually. The initiative will also enhance energy security of Poznan and the region, as the heat production process does not depend fossil fuels. The collaboration is the first heat recovery initiative of such scale in Poland between a data center and a district heating company.

– The Veolia Group has ambitious goals related to decarbonizing our assets and improving residents’ quality of life. We aim to achieve these by implementing eco-friendly solutions and fostering innovation, particularly in the heating sector. That is why the Veolia Group has rolled out GreenUp – a strategic program for 2024-2027. We are introducing solutions which aim to reduce emissions, regenerate resources, and decarbonize the economy – this applies to our assets and partners, including cities and industry. We are committed to taking real actions when it comes to environmental protection, as evidenced by the newly established collaboration between Veolia and Beyond.pl, which will bring positive ecological and social effects for the residents of Poznan. Using waste heat in our installations, a by-product of data processing will reduce fossil fuel consumption. This means that Poznan’s district heating network will in a greater proportion be powered by green energy, emphasized Luiz Hanania, CEO of Veolia Group in Poland.

Beyond.pl, the project’s partner, has for a long time distinguished itself in the Polish and European data center markets by focusing on sustainable initiatives, a key element of the company’s strategy. The operator’s data centers were the first in Poland and the region to be fully powered by renewable energy, guaranteed by certificates of origin. Data Center 2, located on the Poznan Campus, boasts high energy efficiency and low water consumption, placing it among Europe’s top low-emission facilities of this type. The company also has experience recovering heat for its own needs. Since the commissioning of Data Center 2 in 2016, heat generated in the data halls has been re-used to heat the office and logistics and staging facility building located on the Campus.

The joint initiative is made possible due to the ongoing progress aimed to increase the target capacity of Beyond.pl’s Data Center Campus up to 150 MW, primarily dedicated for next-generation high density IT infrastructure supporting Artificial Intelligence deployments. High quality waste heat generated in an appropriate quantum by high-density infrastructure (up to 132 kW/rack) is critical for ensuring heat production on a scale suitable for the needs of the district heating network.

– Thanks to ongoing initiatives and investments, Beyond.pl is today one of the lowest-emission data center service providers in the country and the region. We use 100% renewable energy to power our data center facilities, while concurrently implementing real actions that combine highest-quality data center security with a focus on resources and environmental care. The collaboration between Beyond.pl and Veolia Energia Poznan on heat recovery is a unique project in the region and a bold step towards promoting decarbonization efforts in Poland, which will tangibly benefit Poznan’s residents, added Wojciech Stramski, Beyond.pl CEO.

Waste heat, a byproduct of data processing, could soon become an important part of the overall supply of low-emission heat. Heat recovery and re-use projects fully align with the EU’s sustainable development and energy transition goals.

– Data centers are very stable energy sources independent of weather conditions. The continuous evolution of information technology and thermal management systems steadily increase the quality of waste heat, enhancing its potential for efficient use within the energy ecosystem. Similar innovative projects have been implemented in Ireland, Denmark, and Finland, where Amazon Web Services, Meta, and Microsoft data centers are connected to district heating networks, supplying up to 40% of the local heat demand, emphasized Piotr Kowalski, Beyond.pl Head of Innovation.

– Our priority is the further decarbonization of the Poznan district heating system. We aim to phase out coal use by 2030. Veolia Energia Poznan has successfully implemented solutions to recover waste heat from industrial installations for the municipal district heating system. The experience gained allows us to believe that the letter of intent signed today will be another step towards reducing the use of fossil fuels in producing heat for Poznan, said Jakub Patalas, Veolia Energia Poznan President. 

Veolia Energia Poznan responsibly executes its strategy for decarbonizing the city of Poznan. Innovative solutions initiated over the past few years have so far resulted in reduced coal consumption and a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to 1990 levels. With advanced technologies for decarbonizing the district heating system, Poznan has the chance to take a leading position among Polish cities in addressing the challenges of the climate crisis. The company is nearing the completion of the Poznan 2025 project – at the Karolin Combined Heat and Power Plant, where a new cogeneration source of heat and electricity for the city is being built.

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• Veolia Energia Poznan and Beyond.pl intend to recover waste heat generated by servers