Data centres produce a lot of waste heat. And if not taken advantage of, its potential savings are lost. That is why Nordea and Høje Taastrup District Heating wished to establish a project where a heat pump uses heat waste from Nordea’s data centre.

The project was defined by the fact that Høje Taastrup District Heating establishes and operates a heat pump system which is placed in Nordea’s buildings and is connected to Nordea’s data centre. Viegand Maagøe gave counseling about the establishment of the business case, tenders and under implementation.

This project demonstrates how it is possible to use waste heat effectively with a concrete example being Nordea’s data centre. This can motivate an inspire others to look into the idea of taking advantage of the waste heat of their own data centre.

The project uses waste heat from Nordea’s data centre which is otherwise ventilated through dry coolers. Instead, the temperature is increased by a heat pump and then the energy from the heat waste can be used for district heating.

Viegand Maagøe gave counseling about the establishment of the business case, tenders and under implementation. Viegand Maagøe has given counseling in:

• Development of feasibility studies and business case including relevant tax conditions
• Cooperation agreement between the parties involved
• Development of the complete tender material for the installation
• Evaulation of offers
• Technical input during implementation.

The project had to be integrated in an existing building with limited space while also taking the existing environments into account. This has brought a few technical challenges for which we had to find solutions.

In 2018 there was conducted on-site measurements and established a business case. After the endorsement of Høje Taastrup District Heating’s, the tender process was initiated which has proceeded in 2019. In the summer of 2019, a total entrepreneur was chosen (Danish article) and the construction process began.

The heat pump has a heat effect of 2 MW and the maximum delivery temperature is 75 °C.

The project was initiated in the last quarter of 2020. The heat pump will deliver district heating corresponding to approximately 700 households’ heat consumption.

Høje Taastrup District Heating’s director Astrid Birnbaum pronounces:

”Much credit to Nordea for being by our side in an important project such as this which promotes green transition and creates synergy between industry and the heat customers. The project has benefited from a good cooperation across Nordea, Høje Taastrup District Heating, and Viegand Maagøe.”