Updated: March 15, 2026
Data Centre Uses Sustainable Heating Hire To Conduct Tier 3 Chiller Cooling Performance Tests
Temporary Heating Supports Critical Tier 3 Data Centre Chiller Testing
To support critical Tier 3 chiller testing, a data centre required a temporary heating solution capable of creating the thermal conditions needed for accurate system validation. With project timelines dependent on successful testing, ICS Cool Energy delivered a temporary heat pump system that helped enable performance testing under controlled conditions, significantly reducing power consumption and costs compared to traditional electric heating methods.
The Challenge
A data centre needed to carry out critical Tier 3 chiller testing under controlled conditions, requiring a one-month continuous simulation of a full load. With their internal IT heat load insufficient to test the permanent cooling system, to achieve this, they required a reliable temporary heating solution that could help create the required thermal load and enable accurate assessment of chiller performance.
In data centre environments, any delay in validating cooling infrastructure can affect timelines, readiness and the next stages of delivery. The customer therefore needed a temporary solution that could be deployed quickly, operate reliably and support the precise conditions required for testing.
Traditionally, this has been achieved using large electrical heaters. However, with a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of just 1.94, relying on standard electric heating for a month-long test would have resulted in staggering energy consumption and power costs. This highly energy-intensive approach directly conflicted with the facility’s sustainability targets.
The Solution
Recognising the need for a more sustainable and efficient approach, the facility turned to ICS Cool Energy. As the OEM of its rental fleet, ICS Cool Energy combines equipment supply with application expertise and responsive service support. Backed by a nationwide network of qualified technicians and one of the industry’s largest service networks, the company can help customers respond quickly to critical project requirements with local support and dependable delivery.
To replicate the required heat load sustainably, ICS Cool Energy supplied two air-cooled chiller heat pumps with a combined heating capacity exceeding 500 kW. These units were deployed to deliver hot water at 20°C to the facility’s chillers, receiving chilled water back at 14°C, which was enough for the cooling system to seamlessly pass the full-load test.
The Result
Through the rapid deployment of the heat pump solution, the data centre successfully completed its month-long full-load test and achieved its Tier 3 certification.
Importantly, the heat pumps operated with a highly efficient COP of 3.5, outperforming the electric heater alternative. This lowered the energy required for the test and reduced the estimated power costs from £10,100 down to just £5,900, saving both capital and carbon emissions.
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Data centre cooling and chiller hire
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Heat pump chiller hire
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