For most of the industry's history, waste heat was a problem to be rejected as efficiently as possible. Regulation and permitting practice have changed that. Heat reuse is becoming part of a facility's licence to operate.
Regulation now expects it
Germany's Energy Efficiency Act requires new data centres starting operation from July 2026 to reuse at least 10% of their waste heat, rising to 15% from July 2027 and 20% from July 2028, alongside a PUE limit of 1.2. A 2026 government draft would count heat reused within the facility and link the obligation more closely to heat network availability, but the direction is unchanged. At EU level, data centres with IT demand of at least 500 kW have reported energy and sustainability indicators to a European database annually since 2024.
Three conditions
Heat reuse is straightforward in principle and demanding in practice. It requires a user within reach, such as a district heating network, industry, greenhouses or buildings; heat at a useful temperature, which direct-to-chip liquid cooling increasingly provides; and interfaces designed in from the start, since retrofitting heat exchangers and pipework is costly.
From design feature to siting criterion
The first condition is the decisive one, and it makes heat reuse a siting question. Proximity to heat networks and heat users now belongs in origination criteria alongside power and zoning. The Nordic markets, with widespread district heating, are a clear example.
How the platform approaches it
At Qore, heat reuse begins at origination, continues in design, with heat recovery interfaces built into every facility and Qore Modular unit, and is measured in operation, where heat export is metered and reported alongside energy and water. We prefer existing industrial and brownfield land, engage municipalities early, and aim to ensure that a community hosting one of our facilities receives a tangible benefit. Heat that warms homes and businesses for decades is among the most credible.
Sources
- EnEfG im Rechenzentrum: Was Betreiber jetzt wissen müssen, TÜV Rheinland Consulting
- Update Rechenzentren: Gesetzentwurf zur Änderung des Energieeffizienzgesetzes liegt vor, Gleiss Lutz, 2026
- New data centre sustainability reporting obligations introduced through EU 2024/1364 Regulation, DLA Piper, September 2024
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364, EUR-Lex
Figures are as reported by the sources above at the time of writing. This article is for general information only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation or investment, legal or tax advice.
Director of Development and Projects, Qore Infrastructure Partners. Profile
