Sustainable Living: How Swiss Data Centres are Changing Home Heating Forever

Infomaniak, a forward-thinking company based in Geneva, has proudly unveiled a groundbreaking data centre poised to transform energy efficiency and sustainability. Located in the heart of Plan-les-Quates, beneath a vibrant residential area close to the community-oriented La Bistoquette cooperative, this innovative facility is designed with a mission: to repurpose the heat generated by its computer servers to warm around 6,000 homes.

Currently operating at just 25% of its capacity, this ambitious data centre is set to expand significantly, aiming for full capacity by 2028, when it will accommodate approximately 10,000 servers. What sets Infomaniak’s data centre apart is its commitment to environmental stewardship; it uniquely recycles all of the electricity it consumes. The heat extracted from its operations can effectively serve as a sustainable heating solution for thousands of homes during the colder months. To illustrate the magnitude of this energy recovery, the heat generated is comparable to the daily energy expenditure of 20,000 individuals enjoying five-minute showers.

The implications of this installation are profound. By utilising the heat waste from the data centre, Infomaniak is set to prevent the release of an astonishing 3,600 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions from natural gas each year, equivalent to the carbon footprint of burning 5,500 tonnes of pellets annually. This initiative underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift within the electricity-intensive cloud industry, advocating for the integration of such infrastructures with local heating networks and the modernisation of building standards.

At the heart of Infomaniak’s innovative approach lies a sophisticated thermal management system. The electricity that powers essential equipment—such as servers, inverters, and ventilation—transforms into a substantial heat output, reaching temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius. This surplus heat is expertly channelled through an air/water exchanger, filtering it into a hot water circuit that sustains the heating needs of nearby homes. To ensure optimal energy efficiency year-round, heat pumps elevate the temperature of the recovered heat to 67 degrees in summer and an impressive 85 degrees in winter, demonstrating a pioneering model for sustainable energy use in the digital age.