Harnessing Heat: British Gas’s Innovative Trial to Reuse Waste from Data Processing

British Gas is embarking on an innovative trial that harnesses the surplus heat generated from data processing to deliver complimentary hot water directly to homes. This groundbreaking initiative is made possible through a partnership with the sustainable cloud business, heata. The agreement will facilitate the channeling of heat created by corporate data processing straight into hot water cylinders located within residential properties.

This ingenious approach not only holds the potential to significantly reduce heating costs for homeowners but also addresses the pressing issue of energy consumption in data centers by eliminating the need for energy-intensive cooling systems. The technology operates through a compact compute unit affixed to the resident’s hot water cylinder, essentially functioning as a miniature ‘virtual data center.’ This setup not only processes data for cloud computing clients but also provides residents with free hot water, seamlessly merging two essential services.

Each heata unit is capable of generating up to 40 kWh of hot water daily, according to the company’s claims. British Gas has now officially launched this pilot scheme, initiating its own data processing operations within the heat units implemented in the homes of ten employees.

Chris Jordan, co-founder of heata, emphasises the significance of this initiative: “Waste heat poses a considerable challenge for data centers, resulting in substantial energy costs associated with cooling. Yet, this heat is an invaluable resource. On the other hand, we face an energy crisis, with many individuals struggling to keep their homes warm.”

He further elaborates, “The launch of this trial by British Gas marks a monumental step forward, and we are eager to see other companies follow suit. Being able to claim that you’ve minimised your computational carbon footprint while simultaneously providing hot water to individuals during an energy crisis is an incredibly powerful narrative for companies committed to sustainability and making a positive social impact.”

Though this trial project is still in its infancy, there is a growing trend towards utilising waste heat from data centers to power residential spaces. The first large-scale scheme in the UK commenced at the end of 2023, spanning several boroughs in London, including Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent, and Ealing. This ambitious project aims to service 10,000 new homes and over 250,000 square meters of commercial space, in addition to a hospital.

A report released last year highlighted the considerable potential for reusing heat generated by data centers while also identifying several challenges, such as seasonal variations and fluctuating energy demand.

Furthermore, new data centers typically require time to reach full capacity, and operators face limitations in managing external factors, such as occupancy levels, which can affect overall efficiency.