Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea off Orkney to investigate whether it can boost energy efficiency.

The data centre, a white cylinder containing computers, could sit on the sea floor for up to five years.

An undersea cable brings the data centre power and takes its data to the shore and the wider internet – but if the computers onboard break, they cannot be repaired.

Source: BBC Technology News

Date: June 6th, 2018

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-44368813

Discussion

1) Why does it make sense for Microsoft to essentially bury a datacenter in the ocean?

2) Should Google, Facebook, Amazon and others be considering this too?