Using Data Center Waste Heat to Cultivate Microalgae
How photobioreactors can turn low-temperature waste heat from data centers into a resource for microalgae cultivation.
Data centers consume vast amounts of electricity, and almost all of it ultimately becomes heat. Most of this heat is released at relatively low temperatures (30–50 °C), which makes it difficult to reuse directly for industry or district heating.
We address this challenge using photobioreactors, closed systems designed to cultivate microalgae under controlled conditions. Microalgae are microscopic photosynthetic organisms that grow using sunlight, CO₂, and water, producing biomass that can be used in food, feed, and cosmetic products. Many microalgae species thrive at temperatures between 20–35 °C, making data center waste heat an ideal energy source for maintaining optimal cultivation conditions.
In collaboration with Data4, a French datacenter operator, and the University Paris-Saclay, we are developing systems that integrate microalgae production directly with data center cooling infrastructure. This approach transforms unused waste heat into a productive resource, while supporting local employment and helping datacenter operators meet increasingly strict sustainability requirements.
Our prototype system, Spectra, has been operating continuously since May 2025 on the rooftop of the Data4 campus in Marcoussis, France. While rooftops provide a useful testing environment, they are often crowded with chillers and ventilation equipment and have limited accessibility. Our next step is therefore to utilize building facades, turning unused vertical surfaces into productive cultivation areas.
Here in Vienna, we are demonstrating what these systems will look like. Our flat tubular photobioreactor panels can be mounted directly onto datacenter walls and scaled by connecting multiple panels vertically into modules. The algae culture can be harvested and processed at ground level, eliminating the need to access restricted rooftop infrastructure.
The next milestone is a pilot installation of 42 panels, covering more than 700 m² of facade area at the Data4 site in France. This system will produce over one ton of microalgae biomass per year, capturing almost 2 tons of CO2, while absorbing approximately 200 kW of waste heat from the datacenter.
Looking ahead, our goal is to deploy algae production systems across 32 data centers in France by 2029, and expand to 160 data centers across Europe by 2035.