- Consortium to trial offshore data centre powered by renewable energy.
- Demonstration set for autumn 2025 at Yokohama Port.
What happened: Japanese consortium to trial offshore floating data centre
A Japanese consortium plans to develop an offshore floating data centre demonstration project off Yokohama’s coast. The group includes NYK Line, NTT Facilities, Eurus Energy Holdings, MUFG Bank, and the City of Yokohama. The initiative aims to address increasing data processing demands while overcoming land and energy limitations.
The project will commence with a demonstration in autumn 2025 at Yokohama Port’s Osanbashi Pier. A 25-metre by 80-metre floating platform will host a container-based data centre, solar power systems, and battery storage. The trial will evaluate the energy efficiency, resilience, and environmental impact of this offshore model, focusing on resistance to salt damage and operational stability.
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Why it’s important
The increasing demand for data processing, driven by AI and cloud computing, has intensified the need for scalable and sustainable data centre solutions. Urban land constraints and power grid limitations present significant challenges. By moving data centres offshore, this project offers a potential solution.
If successful, the initiative could lead to a network of offshore data centres near wind farms, providing direct access to clean energy and reducing reliance on onshore power infrastructure. This aligns with Japan’s GX2040 Vision to decarbonise and modernise energy-intensive industries.
