Old Japanese freighters may soon have an unexpected new job to power AI

The expansion of the digital world, including artificial intelligence, has been accompanied by an increase in the infrastructure necessary for its operation, including data centers. Considering the fact that AI data centers are harmful in more ways than one. In a world where water scarcity is a growing problem, the news that Amazon’s data centers have used more than 2.5 billion gallons of the precious liquid may seem pretty grim.

However, technology, including artificial intelligence. is here to stay, and efforts to support its growth will continue. Fortunately, data centers can be made more sustainable, both in terms of location and resources, helping to ensure that the local ecosystem does not suffer from their operations. We just need to take inspiration from Japan, where the conversion of decommissioned cargo ships into floating data centers is under development.

This solution is more environmentally friendly because it uses seawater for cooling, which reduces energy consumption. Best of all, it’s faster than building a land-based facility. Traditional data centers can take three to six years to complete. If all goes as planned, Japan’s proposed floating data centers could begin operating in 2027.

The agreement between Hitachi Systems and Mitsui OSK Lines to develop floating data centers is based on the objective of meeting strict environmental guidelines while avoiding local infrastructure constraints. Floating data centers will use rivers or seawater for cooling. Although details are relatively scarce, Hitachi Systems handles data center management, including the design of the broader IT infrastructure. Mitsui OSK Lines, a company that operates more than 900 vessels, is responsible for maritime operations. This includes converting the vessel itself and maintaining the seaworthiness of the data center. Naturally, challenges remain and it remains unclear how the facility will provide the necessary energy.

Additionally, a group of four Tokyo Group companies in Japan are studying the feasibility of building data centers under railway viaducts. The idea is to connect to the fiber optic network already installed along the railway tracks. It remains to be seen whether the idea will work, as extensive testing is needed to determine how heat and vibration from skytrains will affect servers.