Harnessing heat from compute: SAP Accreditation

到2030年，数据中心将消耗全球8%的电力，每年产生180亿吨二氧化碳。（Nature，2020）。由于它们产生大量的热量，40%的能量消耗用于冷却，热量被排放到大气中（克拉克能源公司）。抓住这股热量，意味着该行业有机会提高效率、降低成本并创造新的收入来源。Bit Warmer（BW）开发了一种颠覆性技术（“heata”），将数据中心重新想象为人们家中的分布式云计算节点网络。加热器通过热接触板安装在家用热水箱上，并连接到浸入式支线上以加热水（使用英国天然气批准的“无管道”工艺）。使用宽带，每个heata作为一个节点连接到我们的网络，并使用专有软件，BW访问这个网络提供云计算服务，使用产生的热量用于家庭热水。通过“两次”使用能源（一次用于处理，一次用于加热），我们大幅提高了计算效率，并在不依赖热力网络基础设施的情况下减少了能源费用。这遵循了我们的原则，即移动数据比移动热量容易得多。对于这个项目，BW将建造100个alpha原型，并在100个家庭中进行为期12个月的试点。这项广泛的试验将使我们能够为heata寻求SAP/RdSAP认证（能源性能和EPC评级的批准方法），这将使我们能够将heata定位为能源效率措施，激励安装（允许我们建立计算网络）并认证heata为低碳计算提供商。

Data centres are on track to consume 8% of global electricity by 2030, producing 1.8Gt CO2 p.a. (Nature, 2020). Because they generate vast amounts of heat, 40% of their energy consumption is used for cooling, with heat expelled into the atmosphere (Clarke Energy). Capturing this heat represents a significant opportunity for the sector to increase efficiency, reduce costs and generate new revenue streams.Bit Warmer (BW) has developed a disruptive technology ('heata') that reimagines the data centre as a network of distributed cloud computing nodes inside people's homes. heatas are fitted onto domestic hot water tanks via a thermal contact plate and wired into the immersion spur to heat water (using a British Gas approved, 'no-plumbing' process). Using broadband, each heata connects as a node into our network, and using proprietary software, BW accesses this network to provide cloud compute services, using the resulting heat for domestic water heating. By using energy 'twice' (once for processing, once for heating), we substantially increase compute efficiency and reduce energy bills without relying on heat network infrastructure. This follows our principle that it is much easier to move data than heatFor this project, BW will build 100 alpha prototypes and run a pilot in 100 homes for 12 months. This extensive trial will enable us to pursue SAP/RdSAP accreditation for heata (the approved method for energy performance and EPC ratings), which will enable us to position heata as an energy efficiency measure, incentivising installs (allowing us to establish a compute network) and certifying heata as a low-carbon compute provider.