Zero-Carbon Development in Data Centers Using Waste Heat Recovery Technology: A Systematic Review

Lingfei Zhang (), Zhanwen Zhao, Bohang Chen, Mingyu Zhao and Yangyang Chen
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Lingfei Zhang: School of Intelligent Science and Engineering, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
Zhanwen Zhao: School of Intelligent Science and Engineering, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
Bohang Chen: School of Intelligent Science and Engineering, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
Mingyu Zhao: School of Intelligent Science and Engineering, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
Yangyang Chen: School of Intelligent Science and Engineering, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-27

Abstract: The rapid advancement of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing has driven continuous expansion of global data centers, resulting in increasingly severe energy consumption and carbon emission challenges. According to projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global electricity demand of data centers is expected to double by 2030. The construction of green data centers has emerged as a critical pathway for achieving carbon neutrality goals and facilitating energy structure transition. This paper presents a systematic review of the role of waste heat recovery technologies in data centers for achieving low-carbon development. Categorized by aspects of waste heat recovery technologies, power production and district heating, it focuses on assessing the applicability of heat collection technologies, such as heat pumps, thermal energy storage and absorption cooling, in different scenarios. This study examines multiple electricity generation pathways, specifically the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), Kalina Cycle (KC), and thermoelectric generators (TEG), with comprehensive analysis of their technical performance and economic viability. The study also assesses the feasibility and environmental advantages of using data center waste heat for district heating. This application, supported by heat pumps and thermal energy storage, could serve both residential and industrial areas. The study shows that waste heat recovery technologies can not only significantly reduce the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of data centers, but also deliver substantial economic returns and emission reduction potential. In the future, the integration of green computing power with renewable energy will emerge as the cornerstone of sustainable data center development. Through intelligent energy management systems, cascaded energy utilization and regional energy synergy, data centers are poised to transition from traditional “energy-intensive facilities” to proactive “clean energy collaborators” within the smart grid ecosystem.

Keywords: data center; waste heat recovery; power generation; district heating (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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