Google catches wave power
Internet giant Google has patented a design for a floating data centre that will use wave power as a source of electricity and sea water as a cooling system.
While data centres can be virtual, they are commonly facilities used for housing computer units or servers. They require continuous power supplies and a controlled environment to keep equipment running and ensure it remains cool.
Google’s patent, which was approved in the United States on August 28, could go some way to addressing the expensive challenge of housing data centres.
The blogosphere and tech world are abuzz with the innovation. According to ZDNet.com, the data centres would be set up between 4km and 11km out to sea, and in about 50m to 70m of water. The floating pontoons would use wave farms as sources of power and could ultimately be self-sustaining.
The site also points out that the floating data centres could require far less red tape to establish as they would be located out of any land-based authority’s jurisdiction.
The data centres would, however, require infrastructure and undersea cables to link them to the grid, but would be capable of creating 40MW of sustainable energy.
A similar idea, placing data centres on cargo ships, has reportedly been proposed before by another company, International Data Security. Google’s plan, however, would involve the construction of separate units housed at sea, with replacements being shipped off or on land as required.
News on the patent comes just as Google announced its support for a satellite-based internet service intended to service developing nations with limited internet access.
The O3b networks, representing the “other three billion” people with limited connectivity, will not require fixed-line infrastructure commonly used to access the web.
Google floating data centre discussion
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