Data Centre as a Key Player of a District Electric Power and Heat Network System; comparison in Urban and Suburb Regions

Abstract

A data center(DC) demands air-conditioning power as large as the 1/3-1/2 of total electricity consumption.Thus, energy saving of cooling power of DC yields considerable effect on both economic and environmental views.Photovoltaic (PV) and absorption refrigerator with gas boiler or cogeneration systems(CGS) are possible power saving options. The waste warm air from DC would be utilized for greenhouse heating when DC and greenhouse locate near in the suburbs. In this study, the authors develop an energy network model to assess the potential contribution of DC as a major electric power and chilled air consumer as well as the warm air supplier in a district to the energy efficiency improvement. The evaporation heat of LNG utilization is also considered as well as PV, CGS. This model is applied to the cases of the urban area in Tokyo which involves athletic center, shops and hospital and the suburbs including greenhouse and then compared. Key word: data center, distributed energy systems, urban and suburbs