The relentless march of artificial intelligence is prompting a fundamental reevaluation of how the immense power required by the servers driving this revolution can coexist with, and reduce its strain on, the environment. Data centers, the silent workhorses of the internet that underpin virtually every digital service, are notoriously power- and water-intensive. They often become unwelcome additions to the landscape and a burden on local communities. With the escalating demands of AI workloads, the pressure on power supply chains is set to intensify dramatically.
Simone Larsson, head of enterprise AI at Lenovo, warned of an impending “tipping point” where current data center architectures will become obsolete. In response to this looming digital infrastructure crisis, major tech players and infrastructure developers are actively exploring innovative and unconventional solutions.
**Data Spas and Villages: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Computing**
A study by Lenovo, in collaboration with Opinium, titled “Data Center of the Future,” highlights the inadequacy of traditional data centers in efficiently powering AI workloads and meeting sustainability targets and regulatory demands. The research revealed that while the majority of IT decision-makers prioritize technology partners who can reduce energy consumption, a mere 46% of respondents indicated that their current data center designs adequately support sustainability objectives.
In light of these challenges, Lenovo has partnered with architects from Mamou-Mani and engineers from AKT II to conceptualize data centers that integrate more harmoniously with their environments and address energy limitations. These forward-thinking designs envision data centers repurposed from disused tunnels or bunkers, sequestered underground, or elevated structures that harness continuous solar energy.
The concept of “data villages” proposes modular server arrangements situated near urban centers, enabling the repurposing of excess heat to warm local facilities like schools and homes. Similarly, “data center spas” would utilize waste heat in a wellness setting, with the generated heat from the spa then potentially recirculating to power the data center’s cooling systems.
However, these ambitious designs are not expected to be commercially viable until 2055 or later, as acknowledged by Lenovo. The company emphasizes that its study aims to stimulate dialogue, and significant regulatory shifts would be necessary for such concepts to be implemented. The substantial costs, engineering complexities, legal frameworks, and scalability challenges also present considerable hurdles.
Adoption patterns are likely to vary geographically. Perkins Liu, a senior research analyst at S&P Global’s 451 Research, suggests that the U.S., with its ample land, high demand, and relatively flexible regulatory environment, may favor large-scale, high-density campuses. Conversely, Europe, facing grid constraints and stricter regulations, might adopt different approaches.
This exploration of novel data center designs is not entirely unprecedented. In 2018, Microsoft trialed an underwater data center, submerged 117 feet below sea level, to leverage the cooling benefits of seawater and tidal power, aiming for full renewable energy operation. Furthermore, numerous operators are already redirecting waste heat from their facilities to warm nearby residential areas. For instance, excess heat from an Equinix data center last summer was used to heat Olympic swimming pools in Paris.
**The Orbital Frontier: Data Centers in Space**
The race to establish data centers in orbit is intensifying, with initiatives like Google’s “Suncatcher” project, Alibaba and Zhejiang Lab’s “Three-Body Computing Constellation,” and Nvidia’s Starcloud leading the charge. Smaller players, including Edge Aerospace and Loft Orbital, are also venturing into this domain. While seemingly drawn from science fiction – Google even cites Isaac Asimov as an inspiration for its solar-powered concept – these proposals are gaining serious traction among tech giants.
The EU-funded ASCEND study, in partnership with Thales Alenia Space, has investigated the feasibility of deploying orbital data centers using robotic technologies. Thales Alenia Space is currently developing the necessary technology, with a potential in-orbit demonstration mission slated for 2028. In a significant development, Starcloud, backed by Nvidia, recently launched a chip into space that offers computing power 100 times greater than any previous GPU deployed in orbit.
Since 2020, approximately 70 million euros ($82 million) in private capital has been invested in space-based data center projects, according to a report by the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
However, the widespread adoption of orbital data centers remains a distant prospect due to the prohibitive cost of space launches. “Radiation-hardened hardware, cooling in the vacuum of space, and the extremely high cost of launching large, power-dense compute systems into orbit are major hurdles,” stated S&P Global’s Liu. He also pointed to challenges in reliable high-speed communication, space debris, and maintenance difficulties.
ESPI’s cost modeling for these projects hinges on the success of SpaceX’s Starship program, with projected launch costs as low as $10 million. “If you asked me now, this is unrealistic in the near-term,” commented Jermaine Gutierrez, a research fellow at ESPI. “In the long run, however, the question is whether terrestrial developments and continued cost savings thereof, outpace the cost savings from deployment in space.”
**Rethinking Aesthetics and Integration**
Lenovo’s Larsson emphasized that their futuristic data center concepts are rooted in coexistence and symbiosis, integrating waste heat for community use and benefiting stakeholders. James Cheung, a partner at Mamou-Mani, added that a key objective is to enhance the visual appeal of these facilities, moving away from the perception of “faceless mega-juggernauts of boxes.” Architects are employing techniques such as biomimicry to discover the most efficient methods for heat dissipation, drawing inspiration from natural algorithms.
Cheung highlighted the often-unseen impact of data centers: “We interact with [data centers] every day, with our computers and with our phones. But this gentle giant, in the background, is putting massive pressure on water and our resources.”
**Future-Proofing the Digital Infrastructure**
Experts suggest that for many of these innovations to materialize, regulatory frameworks will need to be revised, and new policies enacted to address the escalating energy demands of AI and data centers. “Data center operators could adopt green technologies at their wish, but it will have to be justified financially,” noted S&P Global’s Liu, adding that significant upgrades to the power grid and accelerated deployment of renewable energy sources are crucial.
Lenovo’s Larsson posits that simply retrofitting existing data centers is often insufficient, leaving operators attempting to mend a fundamentally flawed system. Instead, she advocates for a paradigm shift, encouraging companies to explore innovative solutions and identify regulatory adjustments that can balance the needs of both the planet and corporate profitability.
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