Imagine data centres not being confined to just the brick-and-mortar setup. Samsung has begun exploring the future of AI, bringing data centres over the sea. As the demand for AI is soaring, tech firms have been searching for innovative ways to tackle the soaring energy consumption, cooling challenges and space constraints. Samsung’s ambitious project is redefining AI to the world and opening a new chapter in technological innovation.
Samsung as per official sources, has partnered with a global shipowner to develop floating data centre that can operate on sea instead of land. Samsung’ Heavy Industries will handle the technology and construction, while Capital Clean Energy Carriers will lead project sourcing and investment. Lloyd’s Register will oversee regulation and certification. It will also explore feasibility and assess opportunities in the North American market.
The planned facility as per sources in the know will have a capacity of 50 megawatts sufficient enough to run thousands of AI servers. The data centre will be powered by either underwater cables when stationed near a port or coastline or generate its own electricity using fuel cells powered by LNG.
The project opens a new arena for shipowners to put their vessels to work. They could lease their ships to technology companies and cloud service providers.
Besides Samsung, Japan origin Mitsui OSK Lines is also foraying into this division building a 73 MW floating data centre in partnership with the Turkey energy company Karpowership aiming to launch it next year. In China, a 24 megawatt ship running on a similar ideology began its operations near Shanghai last month. The US likewise operates a floating data centre but very small in comparison to China and Japan.