Many property owners are currently looking for ways to reduce heating costs without major investments. At the same time, there is growing interest in making better use of heat that is already being generated. 

HeatLoop, developed by MinersLoop, has been designed to address exactly this need. 

HeatLoop is a waste heat recovery system that utilises heat generated by computing for building heating. The solution is aimed primarily at larger facilities such as hotels, spas, industrial properties, and other buildings with a continuous heating demand. 

– HeatLoop is a smaller-scale waste heat utilisation solution. The system is brought in alongside an existing heating setup to support it and reduce energy consumption, says MinersLoop Technical Operations Manager Mikko Rantanen. 

How does HeatLoop work? 

HeatLoop is based on the same principle as MinersLoop’s data centre solutions: heat generated by computing is captured and reused. 

When the equipment produces heat, it is transferred via liquid into the customer’s own heating system through a heat exchanger. 

– In practice, the heat is collected from the equipment and transferred directly for the customer’s use. It can be utilised in domestic hot water, pools, or other water-circulating heating systems, says MinersLoop COO Pete Karjalainen. 

Unlike MinersLoop’s larger data centre solutions, HeatLoop does not use a separate heat pump to raise the temperature for a district heating network. The heat goes directly to the end user. 

HeatLoop systems also do not require vast amounts of space. Solutions can be implemented as compact units depending on the heating needs of the site. 

A Solution for various types of properties 

HeatLoop is not intended to replace all other heating, but to operate alongside an existing system. 

The solution can be particularly beneficial in properties that use oil or gas heating, or where district heating is not available. 

– There are many large properties in Finland outside the district heating network. In these locations, alternative ways of arranging heating have to be considered, Pete Karjalainen says. 

Because the system only requires an electricity connection, it can be deployed in a wide variety of settings. HeatLoop is especially suitable for properties with a continuous year-round heating demand.  

The aim is to put the heat generated by HeatLoop to use rather than letting it go to waste. 

– Computing generates heat regardless, so why not make use of it, Pete Karjalainen reflects. 

This can reduce the need for oil or gas heating and lower heating costs at the same time. 

A Lower-barrier way to adopt the solution 

HeatLoop does not necessarily have to be purchased as an investment. MinersLoop can also bring and operate the system on the customer’s premises itself. In practice, this means the customer does not need to build or maintain the system entirely on their own. 

– Not everyone necessarily wants to invest in the entire system themselves. That is why we also want to offer a model in which we bring and operate the system on the customer’s premises, says Mikko Rantanen. 

The goal is to lower the threshold for adopting a new solution and to make it easier to reduce heating costs without a large upfront investment. 

The Future of distributed heat production? 

In the future, similar solutions may be seen increasingly at smaller scales as well. Heat can simultaneously be utilised locally where it is needed. 

– I believe that in the future we will see many small local solutions in which heat is generated as a by-product of other activity and utilised directly on site, Pete Karjalainen says. 

Interested in whether HeatLoop could suit your property or complement your existing heating system? Get in touch — MinersLoop’s experts are happy to tell you more about the various implementation options. 

Technical Operations Manager Mikko Rantanen, +358 50 556 8813 , mikko.rantanen@minersloop.com

CEO Roni Karjalainen, +358 50 434 2477 , roni.karjalainen@minersloop.com

Roni Karjalainen

CEO