# Data centers store heat underground for winter

> Data centers use ground to store summer heat for winter use.
- Title: Data centers store heat underground for winter | Shortify
- Summary: 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%.
- Keywords: epic systems, data centers, geothermal energy, ground storage, heat pumps, rock storage, wells, thermal storage, data center cooling, energy efficiency, science, ideas
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/data-centers-make-heat-all-year-long-heres-how-the-ground-can-hold-onto-it-until-winter-291527
- Author: Moones Alamooti
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: epic systems, data centers, geothermal energy, ground storage, heat pumps, rock storage, wells, thermal storage, data center cooling, energy efficiency, science, ideas
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Epic Systems stores data center heat underground for winter use, reducing energy needs by 25%.