Abteilungsleiter

Finally, some good usage - this Danish data center is providing heat to power thousands of household radiators. * Meta's Danish facility converts server heat into household heating for thousands * Odense uses existing infrastructure to transform wasted data center energy * Heat pumps help raise server warmth to temperatures suitable for homes A data center operated by Meta in Odense, Denmark is channeling its cooling heat straight into nearby homes. Server operations typically send almost all of their electricity out as warmth, with one industry estimate placing that figure near 90%. Most facilities simply vent that energy skyward, but the Odense site routes it through the city's own heating infrastructure instead. How the recovery system actually works. Roughly 40% of a data center's total energy consumption goes toward cooling servers, and nearly all of it is released as low-grade heat. That heat arrives too cool for direct use, since server exhaust never reaches temperatures high enough to warm buildings on its own. Water from the municipal district-heating network runs through the facility's cooling units, absorbing that low-level warmth from the servers, and then moves to a nearby plant packed with ammonia heat pumps that raise the temperature further before distribution. Engineering firm Ramboll designed this recovery system for district-heating operator Fjernvarme Fyn, lifting water temperatures between 70 and 75°C. That range makes the water hot enough for household radiators once it re-enters the wider distribution network. "Our project is relatively unique because we have a very large distribution network," said Jan Strømvig, head of Fjernvarme Fyn, adding Meta placed its facility directly inside that network, allowing highly efficient energy transfer throughout the system. On its part, Meta described the achievement as one of scale rather than any fundamentally new engineering breakthrough. "Heat pumps are not a new invention, nor are coils for capturing heat. What is new and innovative is the pairing of these two in hyper scale," said Lauren Edelman, energy specialist at Meta Numbers vary, but scale remains substantial. Ramboll's published figures describe roughly 45 megawatts flowing directly into Odense's heating network, making it Denmark's largest heat-pump installation. Recovery figures cited by Ramboll point to about 215,000 megawatt-hours annually, warming more than 12,000 homes across the region. Earlier project details from Meta cited smaller numbers, including around 6,900 homes and 100,000 megawatt-hours during initial operations. Following expansion, Meta's own figures rose to roughly 165,000 megawatt-hours serving approximately 11,000 households within the system. Fjernvarme Fyn confirmed in 2025 that Meta's surplus heat output was equivalent to warming about 11,000 households. These fluctuating figures reflect different project phases, timeframes and counting methods rather than any inconsistency in performance. Replicating this setup elsewhere depends heavily on one specific ingredient many cities simply lack entirely - a wide-reaching district-heating network. Heat cannot travel far without significant loss, meaning facilities must sit close to an existing distribution network. Odense already had that infrastructure in place before Meta's data center arrived on site, and this is part of the success of the system. This situation stands out against a backdrop of growing resistance to data centers elsewhere, particularly in the United States. Communities there have pushed back over land use, water consumption and strain on local electricity grids. Thailand has raised similar objections recently, citing comparable pressure on its own limited resources. Amid that friction, Odense offers a rare example of data center heat actually benefiting the surrounding community.

UKCS 2026: A look back - part three | Emerging Talent & the road to 2027. Find Your Community expands industry engagement The expanded Find Your Community area brought together key industry bodies and professional organisations, providing a central hub for guidance, training and networking. The inclusion of the Flowing Screeds Association further broadened representation across flooring and finishing disciplines, with organisations offering support on technical guidance, standards development and professional training. The area provided a structured opportunity for visitors to engage with industry bodies, access technical resources and explore pathways for professional development. Emerging Talent highlights next generation The Emerging Talent Awards, delivered in partnership with The Concrete Society, recognised professionals aged 30 and under who are already making a measurable impact across the concrete sector through technical delivery, innovation and leadership. This year's entries were described by organisers as being of an exceptionally high standard, reflecting both the depth of capability emerging across the industry and the increasing demands placed on early-career professionals working across materials, design, production and sustainability. Richard Bradbury, Event Director, said: "The continued growth in both the quality and number of Emerging Talent Award entries is hugely encouraging and points towards a bright future for our industry." In the Materials Specialist category, Harshita Garg, technical manager at Brett Concrete, was recognised for her work in concrete mix design, quality control and materials optimisation. Her contribution has supported improvements in consistency and performance across 19 plants, alongside the delivery of low-carbon, high-performance and high early-strength concretes on major projects. Her nomination also highlighted her role in education and industry outreach, extending her impact beyond plant operations. The Design Excellence award was presented to Steve Brown, principal engineer at Ramboll UK, for his role in advancing low-carbon concrete design on One North Quay, a major commercial laboratory development. His work focused on challenging conventional design approaches, enabling significant embodied carbon reductions while developing new methods for specifying and tracking low-carbon concrete through live project delivery. In the Precast & Offsite category, Tom Weston of Essex Precast was recognised for his contribution to the commissioning and operation of the Titan Procast batching facility. His nomination cited a strong technical understanding of batching and quality control, alongside a proactive approach that has supported improvements in output, efficiency and product consistency. The Sustainability award was presented to Ansu Mary Alex, research and development associate at Leiths (Scotland), for her work in developing low-carbon construction materials. Her expertise in cement chemistry, alternative binders and environmental assessment has enabled the translation of research into practical, scalable solutions aligned with net zero objectives. In addition to the category winners, the judging panel introduced a Highly Commended recognition to reflect the strength of submissions across all disciplines. This included Natalia Dziadosz, Ramboll, in Design Excellence; Sakshi Singh, ABT, and William Brentnall, Balfour Beatty Vinci, in Materials Specialist; Drew Wilkes, Wotmix, in Precast & Offsite; and Tom Dillon, Ramboll, in Sustainability, each recognised for strong technical contributions and emerging leadership within their respective fields. The awards followed a panel discussion on attracting, developing and retaining talent, featuring Claire Ackerman, chief executive officer of The Concrete Society, John Reddy, president of the Institute of Concrete Technology, and Lauren Fairley, executive officer of the Concrete Repair Association. The session explored how the concrete sector is tackling the skills gap in the face of decarbonisation and digitalisation, highlighting the importance of structured training pathways, professional development and industry collaboration. The overall winner will be awarded at the Concrete Society Awards later this year at the Royal Lancaster, London. Momentum into 2027 The 2026 event demonstrated strong engagement across the UK concrete sector, with a consistent focus on practical solutions, measurable performance and collaboration across the supply chain. Busy aisles and sustained visitor traffic across both days reflected the continued growth and relevance of the event. Across equipment, materials and digital systems, the direction of travel was clear: technologies designed to integrate with existing workflows while improving productivity, quality and carbon performance. With dates confirmed for 23-24 March 2027, the show is set to build on this momentum, continuing to prioritise applied innovation, industry collaboration and real-world delivery. Looking ahead, Richard Bradbury, Event Director, said: "We're already seeing exceptional momentum for 2027, with record exhibitor rebookings reflecting the confidence the industry has in The UK Concrete Show. If you have expertise or insights to share, we'd love to hear from you about contributing to our 2027 seminar programme."