Abstract
Energy system models allow exploring new interactions between energy supply and demand that new actors within the system enable. Data centers (DC) are such actors, becoming significant energy consumers in some regions while pressuring local energy systems, but also having the potential to contribute to the energy transition by providing demand response and waste-heat recovery. Yet, no past studies have investigated how these attributes can support energy system decarbonization. This article describes the integration of large DCs as an extension to the Balmorel energy system model, jointly optimizing their cooling portfolio along with the electricity and the district heating systems. The model allows DCs to invest in flexible-cooling and waste-heat technologies while competing freely with other traditional generators within the system. This article showcases a simplified example of DCs’ potential in the Danish energy system through 2035. The results show that waste heat accounts for 9% of the national heating supply, leading to system-wide emission reductions of 0.8% in 2025 and cost savings of up to 3.0% in 2035. In the future, this model will be used for policy research to align the incentives of DC operators and society.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banet, C., Pollitt, M., Covatariu, A., Duma, D. (2021). Data Centres & the Grid. Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE), Brussels, Belgium
Kamiya, G., & Kvarnström, O. (2019). Data centres and energy—from global headlines to local headaches? International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/commentaries/data-centres-and-energy-from-global-headlines-to-local-headaches
Cioara, T., et al. (2018). Optimized flexibility management enacting data centres participation in smart demand response programs. Future Generation Computer Systems, 78, 330–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2016.05.010
Díaz, A. J., et al. (2020). Effect of climate conditions on the thermodynamic performance of a data center cooling system under water-side economization. Energy and Buildings, 208, 109634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109634
Petrović, S., et al. (2020). The role of data centres in the future Danish energy system. Energy, 194, 116928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.116928
Collina, L. (2022). Data centers in the future Irish energy system: scenario analysis using TIMES-Ireland Model. University College Cork
Balmorel Community. https://github.com/balmorelcommunity. Accessed July 27, 2022
Wiese, F., et al. (2018). Balmorel open source energy system model. Energy Strategy Rev, 20, 26–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2018.01.003
Gea-Bermúdez, J., et al. (2021). The role of sector coupling in the green transition: A least-cost energy system development in Northern-central Europe towards 2050. Applied Energy, 289, 116685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116685
Danish Energy Agency. (2022). Klimastatus og –fremskrivning 2022: 6A datacentre. Danish Energy Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Jerez Monsalves, J., Gea-Bermúdez, J., Bergaentzlé, C., Keles, D. (2023). Integration of Data Centers as Active Entities into Energy Systems Modeling. In: Grothe, O., Nickel, S., Rebennack, S., Stein, O. (eds) Operations Research Proceedings 2022. OR 2022. Lecture Notes in Operations Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24907-5_29
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24907-5_29
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-24906-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-24907-5
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)