Microsoft’s Underwater Data Centers: The End of Project Natick and What’s Next!

Microsoft ends their Project Natick, and presents their findings in this video. (Supplied/Youtube)

Microsoft Ends Project Natick: What We Learned from Underwater Data Centers

Microsoft has concluded Project Natick, an ambitious experiment to place datacenters underwater to enhance efficiency using renewable energy, as reported by Data Centre Dynamics (Business Today). Launched in 2015, the project aimed to create environmentally friendly, cost-effective datacenters by placing a 38,000-pound container filled with servers into the ocean. Initial tests off the coast of California were promising, leading to a more extensive deployment near Scotland in 2018, where the underwater datacenter proved up to eight times more reliable than traditional land-based servers.

Key Takeaways from the Experiment

The Scotland deployment highlighted significant benefits, with the datacenter enduring the harsh marine environment and demonstrating higher reliability. Microsoft’s Noelle Walsh noted that insights gained about operations below sea level and the impact of vibrations on servers would inform future innovations. The experiment also explored new cooling methods using liquid, potentially revolutionising datacenter designs.

Future Implications for Datacenter Technology

Although Project Natick has ended, its findings will shape the future of datacenter technology. The knowledge acquired will aid in developing more efficient and sustainable datacenters. The existence of datacenters, in this AI age especially, is important, because of the increasing demand for knowledge with which to train AI models. Microsoft’s exploration of underwater environments has opened new possibilities for renewable energy integration and operational efficiency, promising advancements in how we manage and deploy datacenter infrastructures.

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