NLR Analysis Identifies Reservoir Thermal Energy Storage as a Solution for Data Center Cooling Needs - CleanTechnica

A recent study by researchers at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) presents reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES) as an innovative and efficient solution for data center cooling, addressing the growing electricity consumption driven by AI, cloud computing, and data processing. RTES works by storing cold energy underground during cooler periods using equipment like dry coolers or chillers, then pumping this cold water back up during peak-demand times (typically summer) to cool data centers via heat exchangers. The warmed water is returned underground to a designated "hot well" and recharged during the next cold cycle, creating a balanced, reliable cooling system that reduces energy costs and grid stress. The system leverages brackish or saline aquifers at depths of up to about a kilometer, which are ideal for long-term thermal storage due to their stability and containment. The study modeled two RTES cooling scenarios over 20 years, both using dry coolers that provide "free cooling" without water consumption or energy-intensive refrigeration