Data Centre Cooling & Heat Recovery
Dual absorption solutions for data centres — exhaust-fired absorption chillers provide efficient cooling using CHP waste heat, while absorption heat pumps recover server room waste heat for district heating networks. Reduce PUE, cut energy costs, and repurpose data centre thermal output as a valuable resource.
Data centres are among the world’s most energy-intensive facilities — consuming vast amounts of electricity for computing power and producing enormous quantities of waste heat that must be continuously removed.
Thermax absorption technology transforms data centres from pure energy consumers into integrated energy systems — cooling the facility efficiently while recovering waste heat for beneficial use.
This page presents two complementary absorption solutions that address data centre energy challenges from both directions.
Exhaust-Fired Absorption Chiller Cooling
Data centres with onsite Combined Heat & Power (CHP) plants can dramatically reduce cooling energy costs by using exhaust-fired absorption chillers — leveraging waste heat from gas engine exhausts to drive the refrigeration cycle instead of consuming additional electricity.
Zero Additional Electricity
Cooling driven entirely by waste exhaust heat — no compressor power consumption. Dramatically reduces data centre PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).
Maximize CHP Value
Extract energy from both electricity generation and exhaust heat utilization — achieving 80-90% overall system efficiency from primary fuel.
Grid Independence
Reduce reliance on grid electricity for cooling — critical for data centres with high uptime requirements and peak demand charges.
Capacity Range
Thermax exhaust-fired chillers available from 200 TR to 1,200 TR (700kW – 4,200kW) cooling capacity — scalable for any facility size.
Multi-Energy Capability
Can operate on exhaust gas, supplementary steam, or fuel firing — providing operational flexibility and redundancy.
Low Maintenance
Far fewer moving parts than electric chillers — absorption technology delivers reliable 24/7 operation with minimal service requirements.
Absorption Heat Pump Heat Recovery
Rather than simply rejecting server room waste heat to the atmosphere, data centres can deploy absorption heat pumps to upgrade this low-temperature thermal energy into high-grade hot water for district heating networks or nearby buildings — transforming data centres from energy consumers into community heat suppliers.
Community Energy Hub
Position data centre as a valuable asset to the local energy system — supplying clean heat to homes, offices, and institutions year-round.
Revenue Generation
Monetize waste heat by selling thermal energy to district heating operators or adjacent properties — creating new income streams.
Carbon Reduction
Displace fossil fuel boilers in the district heating system — significant CO₂ savings contribute to corporate sustainability targets and climate goals.
Enhanced Cooling Efficiency
Heat pump evaporator cools condenser water circuit more effectively than conventional cooling towers — improving primary chiller performance.
Planning Permission Advantage
Data centres offering heat supply gain favor with local authorities — addressing community concerns about energy consumption.
Proven Technology
Thermax absorption heat pumps deliver 500kW to 40MW capacity with COP up to 1.7 — mature, reliable technology with 30+ year track record.
The Power of Combined Absorption Systems
When both exhaust-fired cooling and heat recovery are deployed together, data centres achieve extraordinary energy performance and sustainability outcomes.
Transform Your Data Centre Energy System
Our engineering team will analyze your facility’s thermal loads and design an integrated absorption cooling and heat recovery solution tailored to your specific requirements.
Request Energy Analysis →