IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v219y2025ics1364032125005362.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Data center waste heat for district heating networks: A review

Author

Listed:
  • Yuan, Xiaolei
  • Liu, Jiayi
  • Sun, Sijia
  • Lin, Xiaojie
  • Fan, Xiaojun
  • Zhao, Weixin
  • Kosonen, Risto

Abstract

This paper investigates the integration of data center waste heat into district heating networks, evaluating its potential from technical, energy, economic, and environmental perspectives. It offers a comprehensive review of global efforts to recover waste heat from data centers, focusing on existing research, practical applications, and the effectiveness of current technologies. Key challenges are identified, including complex technical issues, economic constraints, policy limitations, and gaps in infrastructure. The study proposes solutions to address these challenges, aiming to improve the efficiency and feasibility of waste heat recovery systems. Additionally, the paper examines future trends in advancing data center waste heat recovery, with an emphasis on sustainable development and technological innovations such as smart energy systems and thermal energy storage solutions. The goal is to provide a detailed overview of the current landscape and offer actionable recommendations for enhancing the integration of waste heat into district heating networks. By doing so, the paper aims to promote greener energy solutions, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable energy future worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuan, Xiaolei & Liu, Jiayi & Sun, Sijia & Lin, Xiaojie & Fan, Xiaojun & Zhao, Weixin & Kosonen, Risto, 2025. "Data center waste heat for district heating networks: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:219:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125005362
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115863
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125005362
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115863?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:219:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125005362. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.