In a groundbreaking initiative for Poland, Veolia Energia Poznan and hosting provider Beyond.pl have teamed up on a project to transform waste heat from data center operations at Beyond.pl‘s Poznan campus into a viable energy source. Both companies have signed a letter of intent to carry out a feasibility study that will explore how to channel this thermal energy into the city’s district heating network, thus providing sustainable heating solutions to the local populace.

This project not only aims to boost energy efficiency but also seeks to lessen dependence on fossil fuels for the city’s heating requirements.

The collaboration’s primary emphasis is on recovering heat emitted by the servers at Beyond.pl’s data centers, particularly those engaged in AI-driven, high-performance computing. The initiative will require the creation and operation of a sophisticated waste heat recovery system, utilizing industrial-grade heat pumps along with state-of-the-art high-density servers. This configuration is projected to supply thermal energy at optimal levels necessary for integration with the district heating network, allowing for extensive, low-emission heat distribution across residential, commercial, and industrial structures in Poznan, the capital city of the Greater Poland region.

In its preliminary phase, the project has the potential to introduce an additional heat source with an estimated thermal capacity of 30 MW to southeastern Poznan. The anticipated impact of this development is considerable, with projections indicating a reduction of around 52,500 tons of CO2 emissions and a decrease in water consumption by approximately 76,500 cubic meters annually. By replacing fossil fuels in the heating process, this project will also help enhance energy security for Poznan and its surrounding areas.

Environmental Initiatives

The partnership between Veolia and Beyond.pl represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration in Poland, as there hasn’t been any previous association between a data center operator and a district heating provider dedicated to waste heat repurposing in the country.

Luiz Hanania, CEO of Veolia Group in Poland, highlighted the company’s dedication to decarbonization and improving living standards through cutting-edge, eco-friendly solutions. Veolia’s GreenUp strategy, covering the period from 2024 to 2027, aims to foster decarbonization, resource regeneration, and emission reductions across multiple sectors, including municipal heating. Hanania stated that this initiative aligns seamlessly with Veolia’s broader goals by transforming waste heat from data centers into a renewable energy resource, thereby increasing the share of low-emission heating in Poznan’s energy portfolio.

Beyond.pl, the other main participant in the project, is renowned for its commitment to sustainable practices within the data center sector. Being one of the first operators in Poland and the region to power its facilities entirely with renewable energy, Beyond.pl has a long-standing tradition of integrating green practices into its operational framework.

Data Center 2, situated at the Poznan campus, is expected to become one of the most energy-efficient and low-emission facilities of its type in Europe, demonstrating high energy efficiency levels and minimal water usage. Since its inception in 2016, the data center has been recycling waste heat to provide warmth to its office and logistics buildings, making this city-wide initiative a natural progression of its ongoing sustainability commitments.

The project is energized by Beyond.pl‘s continuous investments aimed at expanding the capacity of its data center campus to 150 MW, much of which is designated for high-density IT infrastructure crafted for AI applications. With certain server racks reaching up to 132 kW, the facility is set to produce a substantial amount of high-quality waste heat fit for district heating use. This infrastructural upgrade is essential for optimizing the heat recovery system to satisfy the demands of the municipal heating network.

According to Wojciech Stramski, CEO of Beyond.pl, the heat recovery initiative is a distinctive endeavor in the region and signifies a courageous leap forward for Poland’s efforts toward decarbonization. He underscored the project’s potential to deliver real benefits to Poznan’s residents while serving as a model for other cities. The company is committed not only to ensuring data center security and operational excellence but also to prioritizing environmental stewardship and resource conservation.

Leveraging Waste Heat: Global Perspectives

The repurposing of waste heat from data centers for low-emission energy is gaining significant momentum across Europe. Similar projects are already underway in countries like Ireland, Denmark, and Finland, where major corporations such as Amazon Web Services, Meta, and Microsoft have successfully connected their data centers to district heating networks. In several instances, their contributions meet as much as 40% of local heating demands.

Piotr Kowalski, Head of Innovation at Beyond.pl, noted that advancements in modern thermal management systems and information technology have markedly improved the efficiency of waste heat produced by data centers, rendering it a highly valued asset for energy ecosystems.

For Veolia Energia Poznan, this partnership represents one component of a wider ambition to decarbonize the city’s district heating framework. The company’s goal is to phase out coal by 2030, building upon previous successes that have seen a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions since 1990 through innovative heating solutions. The heat recovery initiative in collaboration with Beyond.pl dovetails with Veolia’s ongoing efforts to harness industrial waste heat for municipal heating. Jakub Patalas, President of Veolia Energia Poznan, expressed confidence that this project would further diminish the city’s reliance on fossil fuels for heat generation.

As part of Poznan’s comprehensive heating strategy, the Poznan 2025 initiative is nearing completion, featuring a new cogeneration heat and power source being developed at the Karolin Combined Heat and Power Plant. This facility is poised to play a pivotal role in guiding Poznan toward a more sustainable energy future, supplementing the advancements secured through the heat recovery collaboration with Beyond.pl.