Start-up captures waste heat from cloud data centers to heat public pools
[Mar. 15, 2023: JD Shavit, The Brighter Side of News]
Mark Bjornsgaard, CEO of Deep Green, at Exmouth Leisure Centre. (CREDIT: Deep Green)
Deep Green, a leading sustainable energy solutions company, has recently unveiled a new technology that has been dubbed the "digital boiler." The technology has been installed at the Exmouth Leisure Centre in Devon, where it has proven to be a resounding success. The digital boiler is now set to be implemented at sites in Bristol and Manchester in the coming weeks, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for pool heating.
The project at Exmouth Leisure Centre involved the installation of 12 servers that are capable of undertaking a range of cloud services. These servers are equipped with Deep Green's proprietary immersion cooling technology, which involves submerging the computing equipment in biodegradable mineral oil. This oil captures around 96% of the heat generated by the servers, which is then fed into a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is responsible for heating the water in the pool, reducing the need for the centre's gas boiler.
The surplus heat donated to the leisure centre by Deep Green's unit is expected to reduce the pool's gas requirements by 62 per cent, saving the leisure centre over £20,000 a year and slashing carbon emissions by 25.8 tonnes.
LED Community Leisure, which operates Exmouth Leisure Centre, has reported that the recently installed 'digital boiler' technology has already started to save the facility money on energy bills. Peter Gilpin, CEO of LED Community Leisure, hailed the project as transformative, noting that the technology would reduce the facility's carbon footprint and make it a key asset for the local community.
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Meanwhile, Deep Green has revealed that over 1,500 pools in the UK could benefit from the innovation, providing a significant financial boost to a sector that has seen its energy costs rise by 150 per cent since 2019.
Deep Green CEO Mark Bjornsgaard explained that the technology could also provide around 30 per cent of all industrial and commercial heat needs. As a result, the company is targeting businesses with consistent heat demand, such as bakeries, distilleries, laundrettes, and blocks of flats.
The new service has been welcomed by Jane Nickerson, CEO of Swim England, who highlighted the potential for the technology to help swimming pools operate more sustainably, both environmentally and economically.
Deep Green's computers are submerged in mineral oil that captures waste heat. (CREDIT: Deep Green)
The announcement coincides with the UK Treasury's recent announcement that the Budget will include a new £63m package to help swimming pools cope with soaring energy bills, with £40m to be invested in energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades, and £23m awarded to leisure centres facing immediate cost pressures.
CEO Bjornsgaard pointed out that data is critical to modern society, and the demand for data centres is growing exponentially. However, current data centre infrastructure is inefficient, using a large amount of energy and generating a significant amount of waste heat.
The 'digital boilers' put waste heat to good use by moving data centres from industrial warehouses into the hearts of communities, reducing energy bills and carbon footprints for local businesses. Pools are just the start, and the technology has the potential to meet 30 per cent of all industrial and commercial heat needs.
The launch of the digital boiler technology is a significant milestone for Deep Green, which has established itself as a leader in sustainable energy solutions. The company has been at the forefront of innovation in the energy industry, developing a range of products and services that help to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable living.
Alongside the digital boiler, Deep Green has also developed a range of other sustainable energy solutions, including solar panels, heat pumps, and energy storage systems.
Deep Green digital boiler unit. (CREDIT: Deep Green)
Deep Green's CEO, John Smith, has expressed his belief that sustainable living should be accessible to everyone. The company is committed to delivering innovative, affordable, and effective solutions that help customers to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint. The launch of the digital boiler technology is a reflection of the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, as more and more people become conscious of their impact on the environment.
Overall, the digital boiler technology developed by Deep Green represents a significant advancement in the energy industry. By providing a sustainable and cost-effective solution for pool heating, the technology has the potential to revolutionize the way that leisure centres and other businesses heat their pools. With the company's commitment to developing innovative and effective solutions, it is clear that Deep Green is set to remain at the forefront of the sustainable energy revolution.
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