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The role of data centres in the future Danish energy system

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  • Petrović, Stefan
  • Colangelo, Alessandro
  • Balyk, Olexandr
  • Delmastro, Chiara
  • Gargiulo, Maurizio
  • Simonsen, Mikkel Bosack
  • Karlsson, Kenneth

Abstract

Data centres (DCs) are expected to satisfy the rising demand for internet services. Denmark alone is expected to host several large-scale DCs, whose demand for electricity in 2040 may reach 33% of 2017 national electricity consumption. Understanding the operation and interactions of DCs with energy systems is key to understanding their impacts on installed capacities, costs and emissions. The present paper makes three contributions in this regard. First, we introduce a thermodynamic model that relates the power consumption of DCs to their production of excess heat (EH). Second, the results are scaled up to represent DCs in a national energy-system model for the analysis of different scenarios. Third, scenarios are generated and analysed to quantify the impact of DCs on the Danish energy system until 2050. The results show that DCs might have significant impacts on Denmark’s power and district heating (DH) sectors. First, the power demand from DCs translates into an additional 3–6 GW of offshore wind capacity. Second, EH from DCs is beneficial to the whole energy system, the entire quantity of EH being utilized in four out of five scenarios. EH recovery from DCs is economically beneficial, providing from 4% to 27% of Denmark’s DH after 2040.

Suggested Citation

  • Petrović, Stefan & Colangelo, Alessandro & Balyk, Olexandr & Delmastro, Chiara & Gargiulo, Maurizio & Simonsen, Mikkel Bosack & Karlsson, Kenneth, 2020. "The role of data centres in the future Danish energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:194:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220300359
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.116928
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Steffen Nielsen & Kenneth Hansen & Rasmus Lund & Diana Moreno, 2020. "Unconventional Excess Heat Sources for District Heating in a National Energy System Context," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Magdalena Tutak & Jarosław Brodny & Peter Bindzár, 2021. "Assessing the Level of Energy and Climate Sustainability in the European Union Countries in the Context of the European Green Deal Strategy and Agenda 2030," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-32, March.
    7. Petrović, Stefan & Bühler, Fabian & Radoman, Uroš & McKenna, Russell, 2022. "Power transformers as excess heat sources – a case study for Denmark," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    8. Stefan N. Petrović & Oleksandr Diachuk & Roman Podolets & Andrii Semeniuk & Fabian Bühler & Rune Grandal & Mourad Boucenna & Olexandr Balyk, 2021. "Exploring the Long-Term Development of the Ukrainian Energy System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Jerez Monsalves, Juan & Bergaentzlé, Claire & Keles, Dogan, 2023. "Impacts of flexible-cooling and waste-heat recovery from data centres on energy systems: A Danish case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    10. Liu, Pengfei & Kandasamy, Ranjith & Ho, Jin Yao & Wong, Teck Neng & Toh, Kok Chuan, 2023. "Dynamic performance analysis and thermal modelling of a novel two-phase spray cooled rack system for data center cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    11. Kristina Lygnerud & Sarka Langer, 2022. "Urban Sustainability: Recovering and Utilizing Urban Excess Heat," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-11, December.
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    13. Ji, Haoran & Chen, Sirui & Yu, Hao & Li, Peng & Yan, Jinyue & Song, Jieying & Wang, Chengshan, 2022. "Robust operation for minimizing power consumption of data centers with flexible substation integration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).

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