Who needs data centers in space when they can float offshore?

Source: TechCrunch

The Power Crunch for AI Data Centers

The power crunch for AI data centers has become so severe that people — not just Elon Musk — are talking about launching servers into space to access solar power 24/7.

Aikido’s Offshore Data‑Center Concept

One startup believes the ocean is a better place for these servers. Offshore wind developer Aikido is planning to submerge a 100‑kilowatt demonstration data center off the coast of Norway this year. The unit will live in the submerged pods of a floating offshore wind turbine.

If the pilot succeeds, Aikido aims to build a larger system for deployment off the UK coast in 2028. That model would pair a 15‑ to 18‑megawatt turbine with a 10‑ to 12‑megawatt data center.

Potential Advantages

• Proximity to power – The turbine sits directly above the data center, eliminating long‑distance transmission losses.
• Consistent wind – Offshore winds are steadier than onshore, and a modest battery can bridge any short lulls.
• Reduced NIMBY opposition – Submerged facilities are out of sight, mitigating noise and pollution concerns from nearby residents.
• Efficient cooling – Cold seawater provides a natural heat sink, simplifying server cooling compared with the vacuum of space, where specialized techniques are required.

New Challenges

• Harsh marine environment – While waves don’t directly batter submerged servers, the platform will still move, requiring robust mounting.
• Corrosion – Seawater is highly corrosive; all equipment, containers, and power/data connections must be hardened against it.

Earlier Underwater Data‑Center Experiments

Microsoft was the first to propose sinking data centers in seawater. In 2018 it launched a modest experiment off the coast of Scotland. The trial was largely successful: only six out of more than 850 servers failed during the 25‑month period, thanks in part to an inert nitrogen‑filled data hall. Microsoft accumulated several patents on the technology and open‑sourced them in 2021, but by 2024 the project had been discontinued, as reported by Data Center Dynamics.