Costs dive at swimming centre with new green technology

Businesses worried about soaring energy bills should look at a leisure centre where costs have plunged by using ‘digital boilers’.

Midlands green expert Ron Fox was commenting about Exmouth Leisure Centre which is heating its swimming pool from energy created by a computer data centre and cut its electricity bills by 60 per cent.

The Devon fitness centre, which expected its energy bills to rise by £100,000 this year, has saved £20,000 and reduced its carbon emissions by 25.8 tonnes using this renewable energy.

“It is remarkable achievement and shows what can be done by using an innovative green solution,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

The system, developed over five years, works by submerging the data centre, which is the size of a washing machine, in oil, which then captures the renewable warmth that is generated. It is transferred through a heat exchange to the pool which can then be heated to 30C for 60 per cent of the time.

The founder of Deep Green start-up which developed the technology, Mark Bjornsgaard, said the computers had been adapted so they are not damaged by the dielectric oil fluid which captures the heat.

Mark said the energy would be provided free of charge to the council-run centre and would also refund the leisure centre’s electricity costs for running the ‘digital boiler’. Seven other pools in England have already signed up to the scheme.

Start-up Deep Green also has clients using its computing power for artificial intelligence and machine learning which they charge for.

He said although current data infrastructure is inefficient at generating vast amounts of waste heat, by moving small data centres into the heart of communities these ‘digital boilers’ put the waste heat to good use and save businesses thousands of pounds on their energy bills.

Mark said this system could also be used to benefit bakeries, distilleries, launderettes and blocks of flats as well as pools.

But he said this invention was impractical for massive worldwide companies and those wanting to generate heat all the time.

“It has been a crazy two months since the story has had national coverage,” said Mark. “We have had so much interest and we are already on course for ten new sites this year.”

The Exmouth centre said costs for leisure facilities have gone up by 150 per cent with many facing closure.

Last summer, BBC News revealed 65 swimming pools had shut since 2019, with rising energy costs cited as the main reason.

Sean Day, who runs the Devon leisure centre, said this partnership has really helped them to reduce their costs after their energy prices and gas prices had gone through the roof.

“It is great how new technology and green energy can work together to save such vital community facilities as swimming pools and leisure centres,” said Ron.

If you want any advice on green energy solutions, contact Ron on 0845 474 6641.

 

Caption: Taking the plunge – Mark Bjornsgaard, the founder of Deep Green start-up which developed the technology to help swimming pools cut costs. Picture supplied by Deep Green