TECH
Floating data centers cool servers with seawater
Offshore platforms bring cloud power closer to cities and cut land demand
Underwater Data Center. Photo by Shanghai Hailanyun Technology.
As cloud demand grows, cities are running short on land and power for new data centers. Floating platforms are emerging as an alternative — placing servers offshore and using seawater for cooling. Developers say this cuts costs, saves land, and reduces carbon intensity.
Keppel advances floating data park in Singapore. In its 2025 Investor Day presentation, Keppel unveiled a Floating Data Centre DataPark+ Concept, a 1 GW campus designed for nearshore deployment. The concept includes hydrogen and solar integration, with environmental impact assessments underway.
Keppel studies modular floating data barges. Keppel Data Centres has ongoing partnerships with Toll Group and Royal Vopak to explore modular floating data centers. The designs aim to use LNG-to-power and seawater cooling to increase energy efficiency for Singapore’s crowded digital hub.
China builds commercial underwater data centers. Off Shanghai, the Hailanyun project is deploying underwater data hubs to serve the country’s AI industry. By using natural seawater cooling, developers claim significant energy savings compared to traditional land-based facilities.
Japan tests ship-based floating data centers. In mid-2025, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Kinetics signed an MoU to retrofit vessels into floating data platforms. With capacities ranging from 20–73 MW, the designs use direct water cooling and are targeted for operation by 2027.
That’s not all: developers are pairing floating data centers with renewable energy and AI-driven load balancing. Analysts expect Asia-Pacific to lead adoption, with offshore hubs easing both land scarcity and energy transition pressures.
—TFI
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