Technologies and Concepts for Sustainable Data Centers

Data centers are among the most energy-intensive infrastructures of our time. Their continuous growth–driven by digitalization, cloud services, and data-intensive applications–brings major challenges for operators: increasing energy efficiency, utilizing waste heat, and achieving climate neutrality at the same time. Between 2010 and 2022, the energy requirements of German data centers grew by 70% to 17.9 TWh. A further increase to 30 TWh is expected by 2030. Germany thus remains the leading data center location in Europe – and faces particular pressure to act. The path to sustainable data centers requires an innovative, systemic approach – from renewable power supply and heat recovery to grid integration. Energy efficiency is also required for new data centers that are subject to the Energy Efficiency Act. We support operators, investors, and planners with sound research, proven concepts, and technological innovation on the path to climate-neutral data center infrastructure.

Our R&D services in this field include:

1. Energy site and infrastructure planning
   • Analysis and evaluation of existing electricity, heating, and cooling infrastructure
   • PV potential studies for buildings and surrounding areas
   • Site analysis (GIS) for integration into electricity/gas/heating networks
   • Development of integrated energy supply concepts taking local conditions into account
   • Identification and development of cross-sector synergies, e.g., with neighboring industry or district heating networks
2. Development of customized energy concepts for data centers
   • Comprehensive Analysis and evaluation of energy concepts for data centers
   • Partial supply through renewable energies such as photovoltaics and wind power
   • Integration of thermal, electrical, and hydrogen storage systems
   • Evaluation and development of sustainable cooling and air conditioning solutions: compression and sorption cooling with the natural refrigerants propane and water
   • Waste heat utilization concepts/technologies and optimization of energy flows (electricity, heat, cooling)
   • Holistic system analyses to maximize energy efficiency, including thermal Carnot batteries
3. Waste of waste heat by large heat pumps
   • Feasibility studies and technology development for high-temperature heat pumps for local or grid-connected heat supply
   • Concepts for seasonal waste heat storage  combined with renewable energy sources
   • Economic analyses and support in identifying suitable funding programs
4. Flexibility management and grid integration
   • Modeling and simulation of energy supply concepts for data centers, operational optimization
   • Simulation and forecasting of electrical load profiles, heat profiles
   • Evaluation and optimization of operational management in the energy market
   • Evaluation and analysis of grid integration into the power grid: grid-forming function, control of active and reactive power, demand-side management, peak shaving, and self-consumption optimization
   • Evaluation of regulatory requirements and development of suitable integration strategies for electricity grids
5. Integration and optimization of energy storage systems
   • Design and operating strategies for battery storage systems (e.g., for emergency power supply, grid support, or peak load capping)
   • Combination of battery storage systems with power-to-heat and power-to-cool technologies for sector coupling
   • Analysis and evaluation of thermal storage technologies such as Carnot batteries for waste heat storage
6. CO₂ capture and utilization
   • Location-based potential analyses for DAC (direct air capture) systems
   • Concepts for the energetic coupling of DAC with existing waste heat or surplus electricity from on-site generation
   • Evaluation of the integration of CO₂ utilization technologies into existing infrastructure
   • Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of CCU concepts