'Dry' batteries use waste heat to slash cooling electricity use by 86%

Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a zeolite-based thermal battery system that can reduce electricity consumption for data center cooling by 86% by utilizing waste heat from nearby industrial facilities. This innovative approach integrates data centers with industrial plants, enabling the use of low- to medium-temperature waste heat (below 200°C) to "charge" zeolite materials, which are then transported—typically within a median distance of 57 kilometers—to data centers. At the data center, the dried zeolite facilitates cooling by adsorbing water vapor, effectively acting as a heat sink and replacing conventional electricity-intensive chillers. This integration can reduce the combined electricity use of both facilities by over 75%, improving data center power usage effectiveness by 12%. The technology leverages inexpensive, porous crystalline zeolites, which retain thermal energy without significant loss over time, making them suitable for long-distance transport and storage. While the system significantly cuts electricity use, it increases overall water consumption by 15-