{
  "id": 2006109,
  "title": "Are underwater data centers sustainable for AI infrastructure?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/are-underwater-data-centers-sustainable-for-ai-infrastructure",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-19T19:06:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91591381/underwater-data-centers-sustainable-ai-infrastructure"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As the artificial intelligence boom fuels a surge in data center demand, companies are scrutinizing the environmental impact of traditional land-based data centers. Some are turning to the ocean as a potential solution, but sustainability remains a contentious issue. In 2015, Microsoft began researching underwater data centers, installing a waterproof facility near Scotland’s Orkney Islands in 2018. This submerged data center boasted 864 servers and was linked to shore via an underwater cable. After two years, Microsoft observed that the servers operated at a rate about one-eighth of that of comparable land-based data centers. The company attributed this to the sealed underwater environment reducing exposure to oxygen, humidity, and temperature fluctuations, as well as minimizing physical jostling from personnel. However, Microsoft discontinued the project in 2024, citing regulatory concerns and the desire for faster equipment upgrades as the primary reasons. Meanwhile, China has embraced the concept, constructing what may be the world's first wind-powered underwater data center in Shanghai. Launched in June 2025 and operational since May 2026, this $226 million facility employs seawater for cooling, reducing electricity consumption by at least 30% compared to traditional data centers. By harnessing offshore wind turbines, the data center also diminishes its reliance on fossil fuels, thereby lowering carbon emissions. Similarly, Japan is experimenting with floating data centers housed in containers on the sea, utilizing solar panels and wind turbines for power generation. In 2025, such a test facility opened near Yokohama, utilizing solar-powered batteries for energy storage. Singapore is also advancing toward commercial-scale floating data centers. Keppel, an infrastructure company, initiated construction of a four-story floating data center in 2026, slated for completion in 2028. This project will utilize seawater for cooling, thereby alleviating the demand for treated water and enhancing cooling efficiency. Moreover, its floating nature eliminates the need for precious land space. South Korea's Ulsan is also planning a larger underwater data center capable of accommodating over 100,000 servers and boasting a 30% reduction in power consumption compared to land-based counterparts through the use of seawater cooling. Meanwhile, Maine's DeepGreen Western Passage proposes a submersible AI data center in the Bay of Fundy, powered by tidal energy. In Portugal, the SIN01 AI data center in Sines employs seawater from the Atlantic for server cooling before returning it to the ocean. Land-based data centers could also benefit from seawater cooling. In Portugal, the SIN01 AI data center exemplifies this approach, using Atlantic seawater to cool its servers before returning it to the ocean. The potential of ocean-based data centers is evident in their ability to reduce grid-supplied electricity for powering computers and cooling equipment, as well as minimizing fresh water usage. Furthermore, data centers situated in or on the ocean could offer a distance advantage, as evidenced by a 2026 Gallup poll revealing that 70% of Americans oppose AI data center development in their communities. However, the ocean-based approach is not without challenges. Maintenance proves to be a significant hurdle, as underwater servers cannot be repaired or replaced on-site. In such cases, the entire sealed data center module may require retrieval to the surface for remediation, regardless of the extent of the issue.",
  "summary": "The artificial intelligence boom is driving unprecedented demand for data centers , raising concerns about their growing energy consumption , water use , and carbon footprint . These challenges are making companies look beyond traditional land-based data centers. Some developers are now exploring the ocean as a new location for AI infrastructure in the hope that underwater data centers could…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}