Oceans and space to host next wave of data centres due to AI workloads

• Floating and underwater data centres provide scalable, efficient solutions by using seawater for cooling and by accessing renewable energy near coastlines.
• Space-based data centres extend these innovations by leveraging the cold of space and abundant solar energy for high-performance computing.

Surging demand from artificial intelligence, cloud services, and digital applications is pushing traditional, land-based data centres to their limits, prompting exploration of oceanic and space-based alternatives, according to GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report.

GlobalData says ocean and space environments offer abundant natural cooling, renewable energy access, and flexible deployment models that could ease power and land constraints.

“Floating and underwater data centres provide scalable, efficient solutions by using seawater for cooling and by accessing renewable energy near coastlines,” said Martina Raveni, Strategic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData.

She added that modular designs can reduce reliance on land and potable water, improve latency for coastal populations, and mitigate climate risks that threaten terrestrial sites.

Pilot projects

Pilot projects in North America, Europe, and Asia have demonstrated the viability of ocean-based deployments at megawatt scales with high rack density and potential for long-term operation. In a notable milestone, China in June 2025 launched its first commercial-scale underwater data centre off Shanghai, powered largely by offshore wind.

The project aims to reach 24 MW across two phases, target power usage effectiveness (PUE) below 1.15, and draw about 97 per cent of its electricity from offshore wind, with seawater cooling integrated into modular submerged units.

Raveni said space-based data centres extend these innovations by leveraging the cold of space and abundant solar energy for high-performance computing. Falling launch costs, reusable rockets, in-orbit networking advances, and optimized orbital choices are improving feasibility. Such platforms could provide low-latency processing and storage for satellites and spacecraft while complementing terrestrial networks.

While the use of ocean-based centres remains limited, GlobalData expects their footprint to grow over the next decade as technologies mature and benefits are validated. Space-based data centres, including orbital and lunar concepts, remain largely experimental, but the firm sees expanding opportunities for partnerships, funding, and research as the ecosystem develops.