From The Conversation · Moones Alamooti · · 1m 40s
Data centers store heat underground for winter
Data centers use ground to store summer heat for winter use.
In brief
Data centers use ground to store summer heat for winter use. Epic Systems stores data center heat underground for winter use, reducing energy needs by 25%. Originally reported by The Conversation.
Ground stays stable year-round
The ground maintains a steady temperature around 50 degrees Fahrenheit all year, unlike the air.
Epic Systems uses 6,100 wells
Epic Systems drilled 6,100 wells 300 to 800 feet deep to heat and cool 40 buildings on its campus.
Data centers store heat underground
Epic stores summer heat from data centers in the ground to use in winter months.
Heat storage works through rock
Rock acts as a poor heat conductor, keeping stored heat in place for months.
Water circulates underground
Water from data centers pumps heat into rock underground in summer and retrieves it in winter.
Epic reduces energy use by 25%
Epic’s buildings use 25% less energy than comparable buildings in the same climate.
Heat storage faces challenges
Too much heat buildup can make rock around wells too warm for the system to work.
Abandoned wells could help
Over 141,000 abandoned oil and gas wells in the U.S. could be repurposed for heat storage.
Data centers use 4.7% of U.S. electricity
Data centers used 4.7% of U.S. electricity in 2.024, a share expected to reach 12% by 2030.
Heat storage is practical for small systems
Epic’s 3.5-megawatt data center is small compared to AI campuses using 100 to 1,000 megawatts.
Heat storage helps communities
Storing heat underground can lower power bills and protect water resources for communities.
The essence
Epic Systems stores data center heat underground for winter use, reducing energy needs by 25%.
