Data4 (Paris, France), leading European datacenter operator, and the Fondation de l’Université Paris Saclay announced the launch of a groundbreaking proof-of-concept project aimed at transforming heat from its servers into biomass. This ambitious project, deployed at its Marcoussis, France site, paves the way for a new generation of bio-circular data centers. Installed on the roof of a datacenter, the heat recovery and biomass production system features an unicellular algae production module with an absorption capacity 20 times greater than that of trees for an equivalent surface. The algae are intended for reuse in short supply chains for the agricultural-food or pharmacology industries.
This pioneering project will capture up to 13 tons of CO₂ per year per data center (Source: Data4)
Created by a multidisciplinary team of experts including the start-up Blue Planet Ecosystems, and the Conseil Départemental de l’Essonne team, this large-scale project is the result of a synergy between private and public players including the Fondation de l’Université Paris-Saclay and Data4. It is part of a global approach aimed at designing the world’s first bio-circular data center, a technological feat serving the ecological transition. A second project to install algal modules on data center facades is under development, with the goal of scaling up to produce 20 kg of algae and capture 36 kg of CO2 daily.
“Nearly 18 terawatt-hours of energy are available in our data centers in France, but are currently unused,” explains Linda Lescuyer, Head of Innovation for the Data4 group. “Through this project, we aim to transform this heat into energy. Thanks to the biocircular data center module, we have the opportunity to create a new ecological and economic resource for the region, and therefore jobs, that can develop with the data centers.”