When the cold sets in and the radiators have to be switched on, a larger part of the heat in the future will have to come from data centers. A new political agreement must ensure that the excess heat from i.a. refrigeration systems and servers are not lost, but to a much greater extent end up in the district heating pipes.
The new agreement puts a stop to rules and administrative burdens, so that suppliers of the surplus heat and the district heating companies in the future can agree on a price directly with each other. However, it requires that the total cost of utilizing the surplus heat be kept below a fixed price ceiling for how much it is estimated to cost if the district heating company were to produce the heat in another way, for example by investing in a heat pump. It must provide a stable framework for regulating the price of surplus heat.
At the same time, small companies with a surplus heat capacity of less than 0.25 MW - which is equivalent to 10-25 households can be kept warm on a cold winter day - are exempt from price regulation. Surplus heat from supermarkets and smaller data centers in particular benefits. The agreement also includes a green and improved scheme to ensure that more companies become more energy efficient. Companies where the surplus heat is generated from a fossil plant can be completely exempted from the tax on surplus heat if they have ongoing energy reviews of the plants. The reviews must be verified by independent experts, and the facilities must then be streamlined for the benefit of the energy bill and the climate. More on the agreement here.
“It makes good and green sense to reuse the heat that appliances and plants create to heat private homes. It saves both resources and helps the climate. The business community is ready, and I am really pleased with the input and the good dialogue that has taken place through our climate partnership, which has been a useful contribution to making a good agreement, ” says Minister of Climate Dan Jørgensen.
