Concept · For data centres and central cooling
Cooling from the wind, bypassing the power grid
An off-grid system in which a wind turbine and a heat pump deliver chilled water directly to your cooling, without adding load to the power grid.
- WindMechanical energy
- Heat pumpDirectly coupled
- Cold storageChilled water is stored
- Data centreCooled servers
Background
Today, cooling loads the power grid
The biggest challenge for a data centre is often not the servers. It is the power and the cooling behind them. Cooling is a constant load on the grid, and grid capacity is a bottleneck for new data centres.
- 1Load
Cooling around the clock
Servers must be cooled constantly, and the cooling draws power constantly.
- 2Capacity
A strained grid
New data centres compete for grid connection, capacity and time.
- 3Community
Neighbours and environment
Energy use has to be explainable to the municipality and to neighbours.
That is why cooling that bypasses the power grid makes sense, right now.
Principle
Turbine and heat pump: one system, no power grid
The wind turbine and the heat pump are one integrated system: the turbine drives the heat pump directly. The heat pump draws on air, ground, geothermal sources, seawater, waste heat or wastewater, and Thermo Turbines has reversed the process so that it produces cold. Chilled water goes through a cold store to the data centre. The heat pump can also supply central cooling.
Benefits
Cooling without the grid, without grid requirements, with storage
- 1
Puts no load on the power grid
The cooling is driven directly by the wind, bypassing grid connection and capacity queues.
- 2
Energy is stored in water
Storage evens out variations in the wind, so supply does not depend on the wind at any given moment.
- 3
No grid compliance requirements
Designed for off-grid operation. This can simplify the installation and potentially reduce the cost.
- 4
Documentable green cooling
Cooling driven directly by wind gives a clear, documentable story for the municipality and the wider community.
- 5
No grid tariffs or levies
The energy never passes through the power grid, so grid tariffs and electricity tax on the power fall away.
- 6
Lower energy losses
The turbine drives the heat pump directly, with no conversion to electricity and back. Fewer steps mean fewer losses.
The wind's energy cools your servers without passing through the power grid.
Cold storage
The cold store evens out the wind
When the wind blows, the cold store is charged with chilled water. When it is calm, the data centre is cooled from the store.
The cooling therefore does not depend on whether the wind is blowing right now. The result is stable cooling for a facility that runs around the clock.
Technology
Proven components, low technological risk
None of the parts is new technology. What is unique is the coupling, developed by engineers with experience from both wind turbines and heat pumps.
Wind turbine
Well known and reliable
Heat pump
Mature and proven technology
Water storage
Simple and robust storage
Off-grid wind cooling
A coupling not seen before
The technological risk is not in the components; they are proven. What is new is the way they are coupled.
Next step
Let the wind cool your next data centre
We are looking for data centres that want to join from the start, as pilot and technical sparring partner.
Book a no-obligation meeting- Step 1No-obligation meeting
- Step 2Cooling needs and siting
- Step 3Pilot project