Deep Green has established small-scale Edge data centres capable of redirecting their excess heat to warm leisure centres and public swimming pools. This initiative was initially trialled at Exmouth Leisure Centre in Devon and is now set to expand nationwide.

Data processing typically produces substantial heat. Deep Green's business model ensures this heat is not wasted. Instead, it is harnessed to provide free heating for energy-intensive facilities like leisure centres, many of which have struggled with escalating bills amid the cost-of-living crisis, leading to closures or reduced operating hours. By collaborating with Deep Green, the public swimming pool in Devon managed to cut its heating costs by over 60%.

In exchange, Deep Green benefits from free cooling, giving it a notable advantage over conventional data centres. This enables the startup to offer more cost-effective, energy-efficient computing services to businesses throughout the UK.

Deep Green serves customers with diverse data processing needs, such as AI, machine learning, video rendering, and Cloud applications. Its client base includes York University and partnerships with industry suppliers like Civo and Alces Flight, which provide servers to their customers.

Deep Green’s data centres, referred to as ‘digital boilers’, are installed on-site in locations such as swimming pools without requiring additional grid upgrades or planning permissions, thus becoming operational within weeks. These systems submerge CPUs in specialised cooling tubs filled with oil that absorbs the heat from the servers. The heated oil is then circulated through a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat to warm the pools and buildings.

This method efficiently serves both the data centres and the pools. The heat from the computers warms the pool water, while the cooling effect of the heat transfer benefits the computers.

Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation said: “To tackle the energy crisis head-on, we need innovative solutions to unusual problems. 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 rapidly rolling this out and positively impacting even more people as we drive towards a cleaner, cheaper energy future.”

Mark Bjornsgaard, Founder and CEO of Deep Green, commented: “We are thrilled with Octopus’s commitment to support our next phase of growth. Placing data centres within the fabric of society transforms the waste heat they produce into a valuable resource that benefits communities.

“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.”