Authors: K.A. Varnavsky, A.N. Ermakov, A.D. Smirnova, F.A. Trishkin, I.S. Zaslavsky, A.A. Khoreshok, Lebedev

Title of the article: Energy-infrastructure models for the integration of data processing centers into the industrial complex of coal regions

Year: 2026, Issue: 1, Pages: 4-26

Branch of knowledge: 2.8.8 Mining machines, geotechnology (engineering)

Index UDK: 622.013

DOI: 10.26730/2618-7434-2026-1-4-26

Abstract: The relevance of this research is determined by the structural crisis in the coal industry, the decline in global and domestic demand for thermal coal, and the need to diversify the economy of coal-mining regions. Under these conditions, it becomes essential to reconsider the role of industrial and energy infrastructure originally developed to support mining operations. One of the promising directions is the deployment of data centers (DCs), which are elements of critical information infrastructure, on sites released as coal production decreases. The purpose of the study is to develop a concept of an energy-infrastructure model for integrating data centers into the industrial system of coal regions. The proposed approach is based on engineering and analytical modeling, including the assessment of coal seam degasification potential, analysis of energy flows, modeling of power supply modes, and investigation of the long-term sustainability of regional infrastructure. The study also considers the possibilities of utilizing methane extracted during degasification for power generation and the prospects of combining traditional and renewable energy sources to form autonomous and distributed power systems. As a result, the principles of constructing a functional model have been formulated, reflecting the interrelation between geological-technological, energy, and infrastructural factors in the placement of data centers. The obtained results can be applied in the design and modernization of industrial sites, in the development of regional technological transformation programs, and in the long-term planning of energy systems in coal regions, providing a scientific and technical foundation for the transition toward sustainable and high-tech industrial development.

Key words: coal region data center energy integration industrial infrastructure critical information infrastructure modeling industry transformation

Receiving date: 08.10.2025

Approval date: 12.02.2026

Publication date: 09.04.2026

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