IEA EBC - Annex 100 - Data Center Cooling and Waste Heat Recovery

This Annex project's objectives are:

  1. Data Center cooling system: Set up the unified target parameters for liquid cooling and air cooling system, including temperature parameters and electricity consumption indicators; Develop a unified system analysis structure and method, as to choose suitable cooling system for different systems.
  2. Liquid cooling system: Cooperation research on optimization Study on the heat transfer performance of cold-plate liquid cooling heat exchangers; Discussion on issues in coolant distribution and flow dynamics; Give common methods for challenges related to coolant corrosion.
  3. Waste heat Recovery: Research on heat pump methods to realize waste heat recovery; Combined with heat storage technologies for peak shaving in heat supply; Discuss the combination of data center cooling and waste heat recovery, to ensure the safely running of heat exhaust, then for heating system using the waste heat.
  4. Application and water consumption of Evaporative cooling technologies: Research on air-side indirect evaporative cooling and water-side direct or indirect evaporative cooling for data center cooling system; Research on the scope of application and suitable conditions for existing evaporative cooling technologies.
  5. Computing and Power Synergy for data centers: investigate computing resource allocation and scheduling strategies for improving energy efficiency in data centers; study the relationship between cooling system temperature levels and chip energy consumption.
  6. Non-technical challenges, governance, policy recommendations: analyze regulatory frameworks, planning regulations, economic feasibility, and stakeholder responsibilities related to data center cooling and waste heat utilization; develop practical guidelines for practitioners, policymakers, municipal authorities, district heating companies, data center operators, and technology suppliers.

Annex Info & Contact

Status: Ongoing (2026 - 2031)

Operating Agent

Dr Xiaoyun Xie
Tsinghua University
CHINA

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