Subaquatic Data Storage Facilities: A Possible Data Retention Solution for Tomorrow?
In a groundbreaking experiment, Microsoft's Project Natick has shown that underwater data centers could be the future of large-scale data storage. The trial, conducted in 2018 off the coast of Orkney, Scotland, demonstrated significant advantages in energy efficiency, reliability, and deployment speed.
The underwater data center, which contained 855 servers and 27.6 petabytes of storage, faced no issues in maintaining power supply during the trial period. This is a promising sign, as underwater data centers may potentially be a future solution for data storage.
The stable cool temperatures, lack of oxygen, and reduced physical disturbances underwater extend hardware lifespan and reduce costs. In fact, the trial revealed an exceptionally low failure rate of 0.7%, compared to 5.9% on land.
Moreover, ocean-cooled data centers can leverage the surrounding water for effective natural cooling, reducing energy use typically dedicated to HVAC systems. This modularity and quicker deployment could offer significant logistical advantages, lowering upfront investment time and enabling dynamic scaling with shifting workload demands.
However, technical challenges remain, including higher initial installation costs and ongoing maintenance complexities unique to underwater environments. These factors must be balanced against benefits in longer-term operational savings and environmental sustainability.
The trial, which took place in a region with a temperate climate and renewable energy capacity, was a success. Orkney, where all of its electricity comes from wind and solar power, was chosen for its suitability for underwater data centers.
When retrieved from the seabed in September, eight servers out of a total of 855 had failed, which is one-eighth of the failure rate seen in conventional data centers. Microsoft also plans to explore recycling servers once they reach the end of their life.
The environmental impact of underwater data centers is minimal, with sounds and heat effects limited. Placing data centers underwater allows for greater power efficiency in regions with unreliable land grids, due to decreased need for artificial cooling.
With half of the world's population living within 200 kms of the ocean, underwater data centers have logistical advantages that could reshape large-scale data storage infrastructure. However, overcoming technical and maintenance challenges remains essential for widespread adoption.
[1] Microsoft. (2018). Project Natick: Underwater data centre experiment a success. Microsoft News Centre. Retrieved from https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2018/10/02/project-natick-underwater-data-centre-experiment-a-success/
[2] Wired. (2018). Microsoft's Underwater Data Center Is a Promising Sign for the Future of Green Tech. Wired. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/story/microsofts-underwater-data-center-is-a-promising-sign-for-the-future-of-green-tech/
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