Conducting a feasibility study on waste heat utilisation (RZ/institute area)

As already written in the internal admin forum, the data centre is trying to achieve greater energy efficiency for IT operations. This includes the use of waste heat. Here, a feasibility study is being carried out, funded by the state's Ministry of the Environment, on the expanded use of waste heat from the data centre location in the institute area.

In response to the ongoing energy crisis and rising electricity costs, the computer centre, on the recommendation of Umwelttechnik-BW, successfully applied for funding for a feasibility study on waste heat utilisation from the state's Ministry of the Environment. This study will examine how the resource efficiency of energy use can be increased for Site A (Hermann-Herder-Str. 10). In this way, the university wants to contribute to the goal of climate neutrality in IT operations. Together with local actors in the city, the aim is to quickly achieve climate neutrality of the district heating supply (see also thread in the internal admin forum) / Thread im internen Admin-Forum).

In the course of this feasibility study, various aspects are to be investigated, ranging from the optimal installation site of a heat pump, the required space for the unit, as well as the integration into the existing structures of the re-cooling plant and the cooling ring of the institute area. The necessary power supply for such a unit (approx. 150kW) could potentially be complemented by a PV system on the roof (approx. 450sqm completely unobstructed) of the building. Since other essential technical cooling capacities (laboratories etc. of the chemical institutes) are installed in the nearby institute quarter, it should also be investigated what further options exist, taking into account the existing cooling ring. This could lead to the selection of a more optimal location. Likewise, consideration could also be given to whether the existing steam network of the hospital CHP could be used for these purposes. We hope to be able to start in the near future.