Question reference: S6W-15980
- Date lodged: 16 March 2023
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 March 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken into the use of data centres as “digital boilers”.
Answer
In September 2020, ClimateXChange published a study titled “Potential sources of waste heat for heat networks in Scotland”. The report examined a variety of potential waste heat sources, including data centres.
The study identified nine commercial data centres located in Scotland, but recognised the actual number is likely to be much higher. In addition, some commercial data centres are likely to be kept confidential for security reasons. It concluded that the total waste heat that can be recovered from data centres is therefore likely to have been underestimated in the study.
The study can be accessed at the following address: