Amazon Data Center Provides Heating for Technological University of Dublin
Since 2023, the Technological University of Dublin Tallaght campus has utilized waste heat from a nearby Amazon Web Services data center, supplying 92% of its heating needs through the Tallaght District Heating Scheme. The system is operated by Heat Works, Ireland's first not-for-profit utility.
The project aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 704 metric tons in 2024, with AWS supplying heat for public buildings and affordable housing by 2025. Ireland's data centers consumed 22% of national power in 2024, leading to a moratorium on new facilities.
The Tallaght project demonstrates integrated planning among grid operators and aims for annual savings of 1,900 tonnes of CO2. The partnership explores geothermal inputs to diversify energy sources. Regulations are pushing for integration of waste heat in the energy sector.
