Under water and above water: two almost fantastic data center projects from Microsoft and Google

We at King Servers are trying to track new trends from the world of telecommunications in order to keep up with the times. True, some projects sometimes look very unusual, if not that fantastic. The other day, two telecommunications giants - Microsoft and Google presented two projects of the latest data centers. The one thing that unites these projects is water.

Otherwise, they are different. So, Microsoft is patenting an underwater data center, and with an artificial reef. And Google is developing a project for a floating data center driven by kites. Let's see what these projects are and what they can be used for.

Microsoft and its underwater data center

Microsoft Corporation, like many other large telecommunication companies of our time, tries to look as green as possible, that is, to be environmentally friendly. This is one of the reasons that prompted the corporation to develop a project of an underwater data center with an artificial reef. Here, according to the developers, almost zero environmental impact and the ability to make money are combined.



One of the problems of our time is the extinction of corals. The reasons that lead to this result are very different. Sometimes this is an infection, but most often it is a global warming and a change in acidity and some other parameters of sea water.

In order to somehow compensate for the extinction of old reefs, people began to try to create an appropriate environment for the formation of new ones. To do this, a variety of methods and objects are used, including sunken cargo ships that are decommissioned. But such objects are not optimal for this purpose.



Microsoft has proposed its own solution - this is a modular data center, which will serve as the basis for the formation of coral "thickets". According to experts, the excess heat generated by the data center will help attract the inhabitants of the shelf. The developers of the company also provided for another move that will allow marine creatures to gain a foothold in the location of the underwater data center. These are nutrients that will be distributed through special tools.

Microsoft already has experience in using the depths of water as a tool for cooling equipment in data centers. So, a few months ago, the corporation announced the successful testing of an underwater container with network equipment located there. Now the project decided to scale. So that the data center is not demolished by undercurrents, the modules will be secured with special anchors. The depth of the data centers will be sufficient so that they are not damaged by factors such as hurricanes or storms.

According to company representatives, a data center of this type represents several dozen hermetically sealed containers. They will be interconnected by network and energy channels, which will allow the DC to work as a single system. If necessary, all containers or parts can be lifted to the surface for maintenance. Such an object will receive energy from waves, currents and tides. But this will be one of the sources of electricity, the rest will have to be delivered in the usual way - by cable.



Of course, the proposed design is also not perfect. After all, an underwater data center, in addition to waves and hurricanes, can be damaged as a result of a large number of factors. This is direct sabotage, and accidents involving submarines or surface ships, and damage to containers by sea animals, and the ingress of man-made debris on coolers (radiators).

At the same time, corporation engineers have provided several ways to avoid unwanted problems. Among others, an unauthorized physical intrusion detection system. Such a system will consist of a large number of various sensors and sensors.

What about Google?

Google, unlike Microsoft, is not going to pile up coral reefs. Instead, the company plans to launch its data centers on a long voyage, in order to ensure that there are no complaints from regulators from different countries regarding the data stored on its servers. Of course, this is just a fantasy, but if you put the data center in neutral waters, then everything can be. Perhaps the company will be able to carry out its plans thanks to its new project to create data centers, led by kites. It was such a patent that the company received at the end of last year.

As for the floating data centers themselves, there is nothing particularly new here - the same company Nautilus Data Technologies plans to launch the first such data center this year. Google went further and decided to create an original traffic system for barges - data centers.


The idea of ​​the project is to provide the floating data center with wind power. It will be generated by huge kites located high above the surface of the ocean. At this altitude, winds blow constantly, so there will be no problems in generating electricity. In addition, kites - generators will also set the ships in motion.

Some time ago, Google was engaged in the development of floating data centers, perhaps this experience will be implemented in a new project. The cooling here, as in the case of the Microsoft project, will be made using seawater. This will save a significant amount of energy. Despite the fact that the company will receive electricity at a low price (the cost of energy, unfortunately, is still unknown), it will still have to be saved.

Generated electricity will be accumulated in a special system, from where energy can be taken as needed. Well, barges with data centers on board can be moved around the oceans.

How real are both projects? Who knows. So far, all this is only in a state of concept, although companies have received patents for their developments. But, as we know, modern corporations sometimes quickly realize what yesterday seemed completely fantastic. So all that remains is to wait.