Tobacco　drying　is　a　highly　energy-consuming　process　that　requires　a　large　amount　of　thermal　energy.　In　this　study,　the　waste　heat　from　a　data　center　is　utilized　to　reduce　fossil　energy　consumption　in　the　tobacco　drying　process.　A　heat　pump　system　is　designed　to　address　the　issue　of　the　waste　heat　temperature　from　the　data　center　not　meeting　the　required　temperature　for　tobacco　drying.　Multi-objective　optimization　is　performed　with　the　goal　of　maximizing　the　specific　moisture　extraction　rate　and　minimizing　the　specific　investment　cost,　and　seven　hydrofluoroolefins　are　selected　as　the　circulating　working　fluids.　Coal-fired　tobacco　drying　and　Air　Source　Heat　Pump　Tobacco　Drying　(ASHPTD)　are　selected　as　comparison　benchmarks　to　evaluate　the　energy　efficiency　and　environmental　benefits　of　the　Data　Center　Waste　Heat　Tobacco　Drying　(DCWHTD)　method　in　this　study.　The　results　indicate　that　R1234ze(Z)　is　the　best　working　fluid.　The　specific　moisture　extraction　rate　of　DCWHTD　is　improved　by　36.69%　and　20.21%　compared　to　the　coal-fired　tobacco　drying　and　ASHPTD,　respectively,　demonstrating　enhanced　energy　efficiency.　Although　the　specific　investment　cost　of　DCWHTD　is　higher　compared　with　the　coal-fired　tobacco　drying,　it　is　21.00%　lower　than　that　of　ASHPTD.　DCWHTD　produces　fewer　emissions,　the　life-cycle　carbon　emissions　are　26.93%　and　16.80%　lower　than　that　of　the　coal-fired　tobacco　drying　and　ASHPTD,　respectively.　Furthermore,　waste　heat　recovery　improves　the　energy　reuse　efficiency　of　the　data　center　by　64.92%.　The　tobacco　drying　method　proposed　in　this　study　has　better　comprehensive　performance　and　greater　application　potential.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd