The Rigs-to-Resistors category in our World Famous Rigs-to-Reefs +++ list has been expanded to include offshore data centers, a concept that is attracting investor interest (see attached brochure).
Advantages of offshore data centers include power availability (natural gas, hydro-kinetic, wind, solar), cooling water, sovereignty, and growth potential.
Alternative uses of OCS facilities were authorized by an OCS Lands Act amendment drafted by the Minerals Management Service and attached to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by Congresswoman Barbara Cubin. The amendment authorized:
“use, for energy-related purposes or for other authorized mariner elated purposes, facilities currently or previously used for activities
authorized under this Act,”
The attachment summarizes plans to install modular data centers on existing offshore platforms. The advocates see “using fixed platforms ready for decommissioning as a low-cost solution with simpler execution.” Are they a bit too optimistic? 😉
Japan has some interesting offshore data center ideas, including the concept pictured below.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 
Leave a comment