Abandoned Pennsylvania mines and waste-heat recycling could make the state’s massive new data centers far more sustainable
Proposed data centers in Pennsylvania could demand 13 gigawatts of electricity, leading to significant concerns about energy and water use, noise pollution, and community impact. The article highlights existing opposition in locations like East Vincent Township while exploring sustainable solutions such as waste-heat recycling and geothermal cooling from abandoned mines.
Pennsylvania faces a significant challenge with the proposed development of new data centers, which are projected to require approximately 13 gigawatts of electricity—enough to power 11 million homes. Companies are drawn to the state due to its proximity to major East Coast cities, affordable land and electricity, and existing industrial infrastructure.
However, this rapid expansion raises crucial questions from residents and policymakers regarding the substantial energy and water consumption, as well as the environmental footprint and noise pollution generated by these facilities. For instance, active opposition has been noted during an East Vincent Township supervisors meeting concerning a data center proposal at the former Pennhurst state hospital grounds. The article highlights that cooling systems are a major component of energy and water use within data centers, contributing to increased demand on the electrical grid and straining water supplies, especially during hot, humid summers.
Wangda Zuo, a professor of architectural engineering at Penn State, suggests that Pennsylvania's unique landscape, including abandoned coal mines and existing industrial infrastructure, offers opportunities for innovative, sustainable cooling solutions. His research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, demonstrates significant cooling energy reductions using digital twin technology, as implemented at the Alerify data center in Harrisburg. Additionally, he points to Iron Mountain's underground data center in western Pennsylvania, which leverages a naturally cool former limestone mine, and discusses the potential for reusing waste heat for applications such as hydroponic greenhouses, district heating, and aquaculture, citing examples from Idaho, Paris, Denmark, and Colorado.
The core message is that while data centers will inevitably grow in Pennsylvania, the critical choice lies in designing cooling systems to either release waste heat into the environment or harness it for more sustainable and economically viable uses.