Odense
Urgency/Challenges
At the new Odense big data center in Denmark (commissioned 2017), excess low-temperature server heat was wasted. The challenge was capturing and upgrading this energy to a usable level for the local district heating network
Contributions
A collaboration between the data center, Fjernvarme Fyn, IESenergy, Mayekawa, and Alfa Laval captured waste heat via water coils and ammonia-driven industrial heat pumps (COP ≈ 4.7). The system delivers around 100,000 MWh annually—enough to heat approximately 7,000 homes—cutting CO₂ emissions by over 90 %.
Success factors
Crucial enablers include proximity to heating grid reducing infrastructure needs, natural refrigerant use (ammonia, GWP = 0), proven semi-welded heat exchanger tech from Alfa Laval, and strong public–private partnership.
