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A 2011 video documented a groundwater-cooling system at DataDock, a data center in Strasbourg, France. The facility drew cool water from two wells and used heat exchangers to carry heat away from its cooling circuit. It is a historical case study, not evidence that the system or facility operates today: PlusServer’s current status page lists “SXB DataDock” as inactive.
What the DataDock video shows
In a June 27, 2011 report, DataCenterKnowledge described a roughly 16-minute video presented by PlusServer CTO Jochen Berger. The report says DataDock drew groundwater from two wells, each 60 meters deep, with source-water temperatures of 12–14 °C (54–57 °F). Those figures describe the project as reported in 2011; they are not current specifications or performance measurements.
How groundwater cooling transfers heat
Groundwater serves as a cool heat sink. In the DataDock account, heat exchangers transfer heat from the data center’s cooling circuit to the groundwater-side system. A separate description of the cooling process says the water is filtered to limit accumulation in pipes before reaching the heat exchangers. That process description provides context, but does not establish every component or detail of DataDock’s specific installation.
In a general groundwater design, an internal building-water circuit can remain separate from groundwater. One technical trade article describes a possible arrangement with suction wells, heat exchangers, an internal cooling circuit, and injection wells that return warmed groundwater. This is a general layout, not a verified drawing of DataDock’s system. Local groundwater conditions and requirements affect whether such an arrangement is feasible. The trade article’s system discussion is not a permit guide for Strasbourg.
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The reported groundwater temperature indicates the temperature of the source water at the site; it does not show how much electricity the system used or saved. The available DataDock reporting gives no measured energy savings, water-use total, comparative efficiency result, or cooling-reliability statistic. A source-water temperature on its own cannot substantiate any of those claims.
To assess a groundwater-cooling project, the useful comparison points include groundwater availability and local requirements, the extraction and return arrangement, water quality and filtration, heat-exchanger and cooling-circuit configuration, pumping and air-circulation needs, and measured energy use, water use, and reliability. DataDock’s published case description does not supply comparative performance results for those measures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is DataDock still operating?
PlusServer’s current status page labels “SXB DataDock (inactive).” The listing does not explain when or why the facility became inactive, so the 2011 video should be treated as a historical example rather than a description of an operating data center.
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