As artificial intelligence reshapes computing power requirements, one constraint is becoming central: energy. In this context, underwater data centers are emerging as a response that is at once technical, economic, and strategic. By leveraging the cold water of the oceans to cool servers, these infrastructures promise to drastically reduce energy consumption linked to cooling by as much as 30 to 50%, while eliminating the need for freshwater and easing land constraints.
Long seen as experimental, the model has now reached a turning point. The Project Natick initiative led by Microsoft demonstrated technical feasibility as early as the 2020s, with improved reliability, rapid deployment, and optimized energy performance. Today, however, China is leading the industrialization phase, with multi-megawatt commercial projects integrated with offshore energy sources. In contrast, Western players are still advancing through companies exploring hybrid models that combine compute and energy production.
This focus offers a strategic perspective on this shift. Beyond innovation, it represents a relocation of the industrial model: data centers are no longer built where demand is highest, but where energy is most available and efficient. This transformation is reshaping value chains, bringing compute closer to telecom and energy infrastructures, and opening a new arena of competition between technological powers.
In the background lies a key question: will underwater data centers remain a niche optimized for specific use cases, or will they become a core pillar of global digital infrastructure in the age of AI?
👉 Download (Premium – 199€) the full report to access key figures, detailed case studies, and strategic recommendations on how European telcos can seize the momentum
Fill in your contact details
Payment: Revolut link (one-click / instant access)sent by email
Automatic PDF delivery after payment
