Olympic swimming pool heated by AI data center
- Equinix's PA10 facility in Paris harnesses excess heat from its AI data center to warm the Olympic Aquatics Centre swimming pool.
- This innovative use of heat recycling contributes to the sustainability efforts during the Summer Olympics.
- The collaboration highlights the intersection of technology and sport, demonstrating creative solutions for energy utilization.
The increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) has led to a surge in data centers, which generate significant heat. Equinix, an American firm, is leveraging this excess heat from its newly opened data center, PA10, in Saint-Denis, France, to warm the swimming pool at the Paris Olympics Aquatics Centre. This innovative approach not only supports the athletes but also showcases a sustainable use of energy in the context of the upcoming games. Equinix's PA10 facility, designed for high-density server operations, is expected to export 6.6 thermal megawatts of heat at full capacity, enough to heat over 1,000 homes. The company collaborated with French utility Engie to channel this surplus heat into the local energy system, benefiting both the aquatics center and approximately 600 homes and businesses in the vicinity. This arrangement allows Equinix to reduce energy consumption for cooling its servers, which typically operate at high temperatures. In addition to heating the pool, Equinix has established a rooftop greenhouse at the data center, utilizing the excess heat to cultivate strawberries, tomatoes, and other plants. Noah Nkonge, Equinix's heat export lead, emphasized the commitment to providing surplus heat free of charge for 15 years to the surrounding urban development zone, enhancing community sustainability. Equinix has a history of heat exporting, having initiated its first project in Helsinki in 2010. The company plans to incorporate heat recovery capabilities in all future data centers and is actively exploring opportunities to expand its heat exporting initiatives globally.