Data-Center Farming: Exploring the Potential of Industrial Symbiosis in a Subarctic Region

Cristina Ramos Cáceres, Suzanna Törnroth, Mattias Vesterlund, Andreas Johansson and Marcus Sandberg
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Cristina Ramos Cáceres: Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
Suzanna Törnroth: Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
Mattias Vesterlund: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Infrastructure and Cloud Datacenter Test Environment, SE-973 47 Luleå, Sweden
Andreas Johansson: Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
Marcus Sandberg: Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-23

Abstract: As our world becomes increasingly digitalized, data centers as operational bases for these technologies lead to a consequent increased release of excess heat into the surrounding environment. This paper studies the challenges and opportunities of industrial symbiosis between data centers’ excess heat and greenhouse farming, specifically utilizing the north of Sweden as a case study region. The region was selected in a bid to tackle the urgent urban issue of self-sufficiency in local food production. A synergetic approach towards engaging stakeholders from different sectors is presented through a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to facilitate resilient data-center-enabled food production. The paper delivers on possible future solutions on implementing resource efficiency in subarctic regions.

Keywords: data centers; excess heat reuse; energy modeling; energy optimization; industrial symbiosis; greenhouse farming; sustainable development; subarctic climate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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