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Environmental and Social Life Cycle Assessment of Data Centre Heat Recovery Technologies Combined with Fuel Cells for Energy Generation

Author

Listed:
  • Camila Andrea Puentes Bejarano

    (Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain)

  • Javier Pérez Rodríguez

    (Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain)

  • Juan Manuel de Andrés Almeida

    (Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain)

  • David Hidalgo-Carvajal

    (Department of Organization Engineering, Business Administration and Statistics, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain)

  • Jonas Gustaffson

    (Research Institutes of Sweden, 431 53 Luleå, Sweden)

  • Jon Summers

    (Research Institutes of Sweden, 431 53 Luleå, Sweden)

  • Alberto Abánades

    (Energy Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The energy sector is essential in the transition to a more sustainable future, and renewable energies will play a key role in achieving this. It is also a sector in which the circular economy presents an opportunity for the utilisation of other resources and residual energy flows. This study examines the environmental and social performance of innovative energy technologies (which contribute to the circularity of resources) implemented in a demonstrator site in Luleå (Sweden). The demo-site collected excess heat from a data centre to cogenerate energy, combining the waste heat with fuel cells that use biogas derived from waste, meeting part of its electrical demand and supplying thermal energy to an existing district heating network. Following a cradle-to-gate approach, an environmental and a social life cycle assessment were developed to compare two scenarios: a baseline scenario reflecting current energy supply methods and the WEDISTRICT scenario, which considers the application of different renewable and circular technologies. The findings indicate that transitioning to renewable energy sources significantly reduces environmental impacts in seven of the eight assessed impact categories. Specifically, the study showed a 48% reduction in climate change impact per kWh generated. Additionally, the WEDISTRICT scenario, accounting for avoided burdens, prevented 0.21 kg CO 2 eq per kWh auto-consumed. From the social perspective, the WEDISTRICT scenario demonstrated improvement in employment conditions within the worker and local community categories, product satisfaction within the society category, and fair competition within the value chain category. Projects like WEDISTRICT demonstrate the circularity options of the energy sector, the utilisation of resources and residual energy flows, and that these lead to environmental and social improvements throughout the entire life cycle, not just during the operation phase.

Suggested Citation

  • Camila Andrea Puentes Bejarano & Javier Pérez Rodríguez & Juan Manuel de Andrés Almeida & David Hidalgo-Carvajal & Jonas Gustaffson & Jon Summers & Alberto Abánades, 2024. "Environmental and Social Life Cycle Assessment of Data Centre Heat Recovery Technologies Combined with Fuel Cells for Energy Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:18:p:4745-:d:1483707
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Camille Jeandaux & Jean-Baptiste Videau & Anne Prieur-Vernat, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of District Heating Systems in Europe: Case Study and Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-32, October.
    2. Ardolino, F. & Cardamone, G.F. & Parrillo, F. & Arena, U., 2021. "Biogas-to-biomethane upgrading: A comparative review and assessment in a life cycle perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    3. Rillo, E. & Gandiglio, M. & Lanzini, A. & Bobba, S. & Santarelli, M. & Blengini, G., 2017. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of biogas-fed Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 585-602.
    4. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    5. Julian Grenz & Moritz Ostermann & Karoline Käsewieter & Felipe Cerdas & Thorsten Marten & Christoph Herrmann & Thomas Tröster, 2023. "Integrating Prospective LCA in the Development of Automotive Components," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-26, June.
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    7. Wahlroos, Mikko & Pärssinen, Matti & Manner, Jukka & Syri, Sanna, 2017. "Utilizing data center waste heat in district heating – Impacts on energy efficiency and prospects for low-temperature district heating networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 1228-1238.
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    Cited by:

    1. Javier Pérez Rodríguez & David Hidalgo-Carvajal & Juan Manuel de Andrés Almeida & Alberto Abánades Velasco, 2025. "Environmental and Social Impacts of Renewable Energy-Driven Centralized Heating/Cooling Systems: A Comparison with Conventional Fossil Fuel-Based Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-26, September.

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