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Welcome to the Heat Reuse Platform (HRP), an initiative designed to support structured matching between data centres and district heating networks across Europe. Formed by a cross-sector alliance of The European Data Centre Association – EUDCA, Open Compute Project Foundation (OCP), Euroheat & Power (EHP), Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers and DC Byte, HRP focuses on proximity-based matching between data centres and heat networks. The HRP guides earlier, more structured feasibility discussions through clear guidelines and sharing key data points at an early-stage so that partners can find out early whether an opportunity is worth exploring further.
Across Europe, data centres generate significant volumes of recoverable residual heat — a valuable resource that, if harnessed, can drive a circular economy, reduce environmental impact, and address fuel challenges. In fact, the share of data centre waste heat is bound to rise, projected to reach around 200 TWh by 2050 according to Aalborg University. Yet, too often, promising heat reuse projects stall or fail, not due to engineering challenges, but due to lack of cross-industry understanding and ineffective feasibility studies that do not sufficiently take the partner requirements into account. Data centres and district heating operators frequently struggle to connect with each other in a timely and effective manner, with initial conversations hampered by incomplete information or misaligned assumptions.
Launched in mid-2025, HRP’s proof of concept mapped data centres and heat networks in France. The pilot phase is now expanding across Europe. The project aims not just to map operators, but to provide a full project-enablement toolkit, offering practical guidance, templates, calculators, and capacity-building resources. Insights from the pilot will inform a scalable, EU-wide rollout designed to produce a step change in data centre heat reuse projects being delivered. This benefits the communities where these data centres are located.
Ultimately, HRP’s objective is delivery — more connections between key stakeholders, more effective feasibility studies that develop projects rather than end up sitting on a shelf, and more operational heat reuse projects that drive sustainable change across the continent. HRP is expected to roll out to cities across Europe this year and looks forward to sharing insights learned along the way.
Tune into our first webinar on Monday 30 March at 12:00 a.m. CEST (11.00 am GMT) to hear about the foundations for successful collaboration between data centre operators and district heating network operators. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e8YUYXbM
#DataCentres#HeatReuse#Europe#DigitalInfrastructure
Heat Reuse Platform 