Microsoft reveals findings from Project Natick , its experimental undersea datacenter
Microsoft reveals findings from Project Natick , its experimental undersea datacenter
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would have proven a challenge for the infrastructure power requirements of a traditional , overland data center in the same region , the grid was more than sufficient for the same size operation underwater .
The future relationship between data centres , power and the environment is likely to be more closely entwined . Such centres will likely consume a lot less power than they do currently – and within five years , solar , natural gas , wind and nuclear will be more part of the energy mix , creating new renewable opportunities .
Cooling is an important aspect as costs can spiral operating chiller plants to prevent computers overheating . The cold deep seas automatically make data centres less costly and more energy efficient and they ’ re not prone to fluctuating seasonal temperatures . Cool , stable climates , like the Nordic region , allow centres to cool efficiently and save energy ( see graphic ).
So what are the drawbacks ? Keeping ocean creatures off the containers is definitely one , as barnacles could disrupt heat outflow . The current tech hasn ’ t reached cost parity with
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