Aquifer thermal energy storages as a cooling option for German data centers

The overall energy demand of data centers (DCs) is still rising dramatically. Since a DC’s cooling system (CS) is a large energy consumer, reducing its demand is a key element for improving the DC’s overall energy efficiency. Integrating an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) in DC’s CS can help cutting the DC’s energy demand drastically. However, ambiquity about the benefits and requirements for the operation of an ATES with a DC’s CS exists, relating to technical as well as legal aspects. Therefore, this article investigates the technical prerequisites a DC has to fulfill to integrate an ATES into its CS. In addition, a case study with a mid-size DC for three different common German DC locations is conducted to determine the energetic and economic savings of the ATES operation compared to a standard CS design. Using site specific data (e.g., weather and hydrogeological data), we showed that the ATES operation can reduce the CS’s energy demand drastically, depending mainly on the underground structure. It was further shown that ATES operation can be profitable in some cases for DC operators when energy efficiency programs of the German government are used.

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