The scheme is expected to deliver 95GWh of heat between 2026 and 2040 to a new development area around Old Oak Common station.
Waste heat from data centres will be pumped into a new district heat network in London that is designed to warm nearby buildings.
The government’s Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) has awarded £36m to the project that will see a heat network being built in a new development area around Old Oak Common Station and deliver more than 9,000 homes and 250,000m2 of commercial development.
The scheme will be run by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) in three London boroughs: Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent and Ealing.
Data centres typically consume huge amounts of energy – a significant proportion of which is used to cool the enormous amount of waste heat generated during computation.
This predictable supply of ‘low-grade heat’ (between 20°C and 35°C) is often wasted, with many operators simply releasing it into the atmosphere.
As a result of this scheme, the wasted heat will instead be distributed to a number of energy centres via a plastic ‘ambient’ network, where it will supply heat pumps that raise the temperature to ‘low-temperature hot water’. This will be piped through a traditional steel network to a mixture of new and existing residential buildings.
The funding will support the commercialisation and construction of the heat network, which is expected to deliver 95GWh of heat across five phases between 2026 and 2040.
David Lunts, OPDC chief executive, said: “Recycling the huge amounts of wasted heat from our local data centres into heat and energy for local residents, a major hospital and other users is an exciting and innovative example of OPDC’s support for the mayor’s net zero ambitions.
“We are excited to be leading the way in developing low-carbon infrastructure, supporting current and future generations of Londoners in Old Oak and Park Royal to live more sustainably.”
Lord Callanan, energy efficiency minister, said: “Keeping homes warm with waste heat from technology is a glimpse into the future – and demonstrates just how innovative this country can be when it comes to reducing our carbon emissions.
“The £65m we’ve awarded today will help spread this success across the country, by rolling out innovative low-carbon heating to help drive down energy bills and deliver our net zero goal.”
Comment: unlocking waste heat opportunity requires a regional infrastructure approach