World’s first algae based bio-circular datacenter launches in France
The French have found a new way to generate energy and bio-products from datacenter waste energy.
Key takeaways
- The pilot project, set to commence early in 2024, will be trialled in the Paris region.
- The algae grown from the captured CO2 will be recycled into biomass to create new circular energy sources and will also be used in the production of bio-products for other industries.
- According to a feasibility study conducted with start-up Blue Planet Ecosystems, the carbon capture efficiency of this method can be 20 times greater than that of a tree.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2024) 'World’s first algae based bio-circular datacenter launches in France', 311 Institute, 16 April. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/worlds-first-algae-based-bio-circular-datacenter-launches-in-france/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Data centers produce a lot of waste heat that could one day be recycled and used to heat millions of homes, and swimming pools … Now, French data center company Data4 has partnered with the University of Paris-Saclay to launch a project that aims to use data center heat to grow algae, which can then be recycled and used to create new energy, such as biofuels or biomass which the company can then either use or sell for a profit. The pilot project, set to commence early in 2024, will be trialled in the Paris region.
This initiative, led by a diverse team of experts from various fields, is driven by the French administration "Conseil Départemental de l'Essonne" and the Foundation Université Paris-Saclay. The project comes as a response to the escalating environmental impact of data centers, which have seen a 35% annual increase in data storage worldwide.
The algae grown from the captured CO2 will be recycled into biomass to create new circular energy sources and will also be used in the production of bio-products for other industries.
According to a feasibility study conducted with start-up Blue Planet Ecosystems, the carbon capture efficiency of this method can be 20 times greater than that of a tree.
Data4 says using the data center waste heat for the growth of algae is a more efficient alternative to the common practice of using it to warm nearby homes, which only utilizes 20% of the heat produced.
"This augmented biomass project meets two of the major challenges of our time: food security and the energy transition. This requires close collaboration between all the players in the Essonne region, including Data4, to develop a genuine industrial ecology project, aimed at pooling resources and reducing consumption in the region. Thanks to this partnership with the Fondation de l'Université Paris Saclay, we have the opportunity to draw on one of the world's most prestigious scientific communities to work towards a common goal of a circular energy economy," says Linda Lescuyer, Innovation Manager, Data4.
What this means for your organisation
Waste heat becomes a product line.
Data4 says warming nearby homes uses only 20% of the heat a datacentre produces. Growing algae is presented as the more efficient route. Algae can become biomass and biofuels, which the company can use or sell. Biofuels are a mature technology, so the novelty lies in the heat source.
Carbon claims need testing.
A feasibility study with Blue Planet Ecosystems suggests carbon capture can be 20 times greater than that of a tree. This is a study result, not a proven outcome at scale. The pilot in the Paris region is the test. Carbon sequestration is still an Explore item for most firms.
Growth in storage raises the pressure.
Data storage is growing 35% a year worldwide, and so is the environmental impact. Regulators are moving towards mandatory efficiency ratings for datacentres, which we mark as Prepare. Operators that can show heat and carbon reuse will be better placed. This fits the wider circular economy trend, which we expect to reach wide use by 2032.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Where does our waste heat go today, and what else could use it?
- Which partners could help us pilot heat reuse at small scale?
- Are we ready to report datacentre efficiency and carbon data publicly?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
The French have found a new way to generate energy and bio-products from datacenter waste energy.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 16 April 2024. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2024). World’s first algae based bio-circular datacenter launches in France. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/worlds-first-algae-based-bio-circular-datacenter-launches-in-france/
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