Free guide: Data centre waste heat recovery, the IHP model explained

A commercial framework where a specialised developer, Calentix, sets up a dedicated project company that finances, builds, owns, and operates the heat recovery system that connects a data centre's cooling circuit to a district heating network. The data centre provides access; the IHP handles everything else.

No. The connection is non-invasive (two isolation valves and a heat exchanger). Cooling capacity and redundancy remain at 100%. If the heat pump pauses for any reason, an automatic bypass restores normal flow within seconds.

The project company set up by Calentix owns 100% of the heat exchangers, heat pump units, pipework, electrical connections, and monitoring systems. The data centre carries no capital expenditure and no balance sheet liability.

A liquid cooling interface point, physical space (typically the equivalent of one or more containerised units), an electrical connection for the heat pump, and read-only access to operational data such as cooling water temperature and IT power draw.

Typically 18–36 months from first conversation to first commercial heat delivery: 2–6 months for feasibility, 6–12 months for design and contracting, and 6–12 months for construction and commissioning.

Liquid cooling with a return temperature ideally between 25 and 35°C, an IT load above roughly 2–5 MW, proximity to an existing district heating connection point (within 1–2 km), and a supportive regulatory or commercial environment.

Your data centre is unaffected. The original cooling infrastructure continues to operate at full capacity. Heat recovery is additive, not substitutive.