In the search for innovative solutions to combat climate change, a study conducted by researchers from the National University of Distance Education (UNED) in collaboration with the ZFB Group in Colombia suggests that the installation of wind turbines at data centers could be an effective tool for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The results have recently been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The study, led by Isabel Gil-García, Ana Fernández-Guillamón, and Álvaro Montes-Torres, explores an innovative energy source: the airflows generated by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in data centers. While conventional wind energy relies on natural wind, these researchers propose harnessing the “unconventional wind resource” generated by HVAC systems, using small wind turbines installed directly on the fans of data centers.
Promising Results
The project focused on a data centerA data center or data processing center … located in Colombia that has three cooling chillers equipped with high-capacity fans. For the experiment, six vertical wind turbines of the Tesup V7 model were installed on the fans. Over a year of testing, the turbines generated a total of 513.82 MWh of energy, resulting in a net reduction of 467.6 MWh in the center’s energy consumption, preventing the emission of 300 metric tons of CO2.
These figures are encouraging, but what is most significant is the potential to replicate this technology in other sectors. According to the researchers, this model could be applicable not only to data centers but also to manufacturing industries, hospitals, shopping centers, and airports, among others.
An Economic and Structural Challenge
Despite the environmental benefits, the researchers also caution about the challenges of implementing this type of technology. Although the mini turbines are more economical than large wind turbines, the initial costs of installation and maintenance remain high. Additionally, modifying existing HVAC systems or reinforcing structures to support the turbines may require significant investment.
The return on investment (ROI) can be lengthy, which might discourage some companies from adopting this solution if the benefits are not evident within a reasonable timeframe.
A More Sustainable Future for Data Centers
Despite these obstacles, the study’s results show that data centers could become key players in the transition to a more sustainable energy model. Currently, data centers are major consumers of energy and significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, but initiatives like this offer an innovative way to reduce their environmental impact.
Collaboration between governments and businesses will be crucial for implementing these projects on a large scale. With the right support, the installation of wind turbines in data centers and other sectors could make a significant difference in the fight against climate change.
Source: nature