Applus+ applies atmospheric dispersion modelling to the environmental assessment of data center projects

As the scale and concentration of new developments increase, this type of analysis is no longer solely an environmental compliance tool and is taking on an increasingly important role in the early management of project risks. It enables the identification and anticipation of constraints that may influence project design, implementation timelines, and viability.

Data centers have backup generator sets that come into operation when there is an interruption to the electricity supply, thereby ensuring continuity of operations. In large-scale facilities, the combined thermal capacity of these generator sets often exceeds 50 MW, bringing them under the Integrated Environmental Authorization (AAI) regime. In this context, authorities are requiring studies to assess the impact of their emissions on surrounding air quality.

Atmospheric dispersion models enable Applus+ to estimate how these emissions behave once released into the atmosphere. The analysis takes into account the characteristics and capacity of the generator sets, chimney configuration, operating frequency, meteorological conditions, topography, and the location of potential sensitive receptors.

The analysis assesses the main pollutants that these systems may generate during operation, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and particulate matter. The results make it possible to identify potential impacts, verify compliance with applicable requirements, and anticipate environmental constraints from the design stages, facilitating the assessment of alternatives or mitigation measures where necessary.

Applus+ is already applying this capability to large-scale data center projects in Spain, thanks to collaboration between its environmental and modelling specialists. This combination makes it possible to integrate technical expertise in atmospheric simulation and modelling with local knowledge of legislation, the environment, and the requirements associated with environmental permitting.

In this way, Applus+ supports data center developers from the early stages of their projects, providing specialized technical expertise to anticipate environmental risks, support decision-making, and facilitate compliance with government requirements.

In a European context of strong growth and concentration of new capacity, this approach is particularly relevant for reducing uncertainty and anticipating potential risks that could affect the development of new projects. All this forms part of a broader view of the environmental impact of data centres, which considers factors such as energy and water consumption, refrigerants and waste management, in addition to associated emissions.