Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
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Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#2[deleted]
Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#3Here's some more information from the blog post: https://news.microsoft.com/features/under-the-sea-microsoft-...
And here's the project site: http://natick.research.microsoft.com/
Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#4Is there a benefit over just putting it in a boat/coastal building and using water (perhaps pumped from some depth) for cooling?
Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#5I'd be curious to know the specific benefits of the Orkney Isles to this project; when I hear the renewable research there being referenced (by family there, some of whom are directly involved) they always claim the major benefit is the close proximity of different underwater conditions, with some of the greatest range in tide.
Yet I assume this isn't particularly useful for a datacentre of a well understood shape that doesn't intend to use the conditions to create power through novel designs.
Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#6This can't be a new idea. Or is it that it's only now become possible to do such a thing?
Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#7Interesting idea but the maintenance must be painful.
Let's say a hard disk fails, what do you do?
Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#82016 article... but still cool!
*edit, no its not, I have too many tabs open and mixed it up with the blog post listed in the comments. ignore me
Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#9Is there a benefit over just putting it in a boat/coastal building and using water (perhaps pumped from some depth) for cooling?
Putting in on/in a boat or near the coast might get you the seawater for cooling, but the project lists a few other big benefits like oxygen-free atmosphere, constant temperatures year-round, and ease of deployment.
Re: Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea to investigate energy efficiency
#10I'd be curious to know the specific benefits of the Orkney Isles to this project; when I hear the renewable research there being referenced (by family there, some of whom are directly involved) they always claim the major benefit is the close proximity of different underwater conditions, with some of the greatest range in tide. Yet I assume this isn't particularly useful for a datacentre of a well understood shape th…
That's true specifically, but orkney has generally become a hub for renewables research, so the snowball effect may be in play here.