Japanese consortium bets on building bobbing bit barns

A Japanese consortium comprised of NYK Line, NTT Facilities, Eurus Energy, and MUFG Bank is exploring the idea of constructing floating datacenters alongside port quays to address the growing demand for computer servers. The group is considering deploying these "floating farms" both near the coast and further out at sea, where they could harness renewable energy sources like offshore wind.

While offshore installations pose challenges such as access for maintenance, high-capacity telecommunications links, and independent power supplies, the consortium believes these floating datacenters could provide a solution to the datacenter space crunch without competing for limited land resources. NYK Line will lead the development efforts, NTT Facilities will handle design, construction, and operation assessments, Eurus Energy will investigate renewable power supply options, and MUFG Bank will consider financing arrangements.

The consortium has previously signed a memorandum of understanding with Yokohama city to conduct a renewable-powered demonstration at the port, with testing already underway since March. However, they face potential competition from Samsung Heavy Industries, which plans to launch its own floating datacenter by the second quarter of 2028.