A new pilot project aims to convert excess heat from data centres into a sustainable hot water supply for households, potentially saving families on energy bills.
British Gas has initiated a three-month trial aimed at harnessing excess heat generated from data centres to provide hot water for household use. The pilot project involves the installation of heating units in the homes of ten British Gas employees, who will receive free hot water as a result of this innovative approach.
The system, developed by heata, utilises a small compute unit that connects to a hot water cylinder. It processes cloud computing data while simultaneously redirecting the waste heat produced to heat water. Each of these units is capable of supplying up to 4 kWh of hot water daily, which aligns with the average daily consumption of a typical household.
Chris Jordan, co-founder of heata, expressed optimism about the project, stating, “We’ve created a solution that enables us to reuse the waste heat from cloud compute to provide free hot water for families in our communities.” He highlighted the increasing reliance on data centres, noting their importance in the operations of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The financial implications of the trial suggest a potential annual saving of up to £340 for households through reduced electricity usage required for heating water. In cases where hot water is heated using gas, families could still realise savings of approximately £120 per year.
