Data centres generate a lot of heat, but the business model pioneered by Deep Green enables this heat to be used for energy-intensive organisations like leisure centres. For example, a public swimming pool in Devon was able to slash its pool heating bill by over 60 percent after partnering with Deep Green.
In return, Deep Green gets free cooling which provides it with a significant competitive edge over traditional data centres. This allows it to offer more affordable, highly energy-efficient computing to businesses across the UK.
Deep Green’s customers require data centre processing for a range of uses including AI, machine learning, video rendering or cloud applications. Deep Green’s current customers include York University, and the company has signed partnerships with industry suppliers Civo and Alces Flight who offer the servers to their customers.
Installed on-site, Deep Green data centres in, for example swimming pools, don’t require additional grid upgrades or planning permission so can be up and running in a matter of weeks.
The investment is made via Octopus Energy Generation's dedicated Octopus Energy Transition Fund (OETF) and the Sky (ORI SCSp) fund it manages.
“To tackle the energy crisis head-on, we need innovative solutions to unusual problems” said Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation. “By using excess heat from data centres to slash energy bills for communities across the UK, Deep Green solves two problems with one solution. We’re looking forward to them rapidly rolling this out and positively impacting even more people as we drive towards a cleaner, cheaper energy future.”
OETF launched in 2023 to scale companies in fast-growing sectors decarbonising society, from heating, to storage, low carbon transport and more. Octopus has also backed ground-source heat pump company Kensa Group through this fund.
“Placing data centres within the fabric of society transforms the waste heat they produce into a valuable resource that benefits communities” added Mark Bjornsgaard, Founder and CEO of Deep Green. “We are thrilled with Octopus’s commitment to support our next phase of growth. “The data centre sector is rightly facing scrutiny about its growing energy demand and associated carbon emissions. Our data centres are highly energy efficient and support local communities with free heat.”
Image: A Deep Green computer submerged in mineral oil in Exmouth where waste heat from the computer is captured to heat the swimming pool.
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