Samsung says it will launch a floating data center by 2028 as it looks to
jump on 'a major new opportunity'

Date:
Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:05:00 +0000

Description:
Forget space-bound data centers Samsung has plans to float its data centers on the water by as soon as 2028.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Samsung is targeting 2028 to commercialize its floating data centers Land shortages and application processes would be avoided Saltwater challenges need to be ironed out With terrestrial data centers under increased scrutiny over water and energy consumption, and facing intensifying local opposition, cloud providers are being forced to think more creatively, and Samsung is now dreaming up a floating data center.

Its Samsung Heavy Industries group subdivision now has plans to commercialize floating data centers by as soon as Q2 2028, and even plans to secure orders before installations. By floating compute on the water, Samsung would be able to overcome land shortages but also reduce cooling requirements by keeping them at a more stable temperature. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: Samsung to float data centers on the water by 2028 The company's plans
include developing a dedicated barge to house servers, electrical infrastructure and on-board power equipment, however initial deployments
would primarily use shore-based electricity, tapping into existing grid infrastructure but benefiting from the cooling properties of water.

Earlier concepts also proposed the idea of using LNG-fuelled solid oxide fuel cells, while renewable sources like solar and wind could also be considered. You may like Samsungs floating data center plan promises faster AI power deployment at sea How wave-powered ocean platforms could meet AI data center energy demands How wave-powered ocean platforms could meet AI data center energy demands

Samsung also argues that floating facilities could be delivered more quickly than traditional terrestrial facilities because they can avoid lengthy permitting processes and use existing shipbuilding manufacturing processes
and tooling.

However, the concept also has some complexities that need to be addressed, like water ingress and humidity, the corrosive nature of saltwater, and stability in tides and currents. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news
and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

"Floating data centers represent a major new opportunity for the shipbuilding and offshore industries," Samsung Heavy Industries CEO Sung-an Choi
concluded. (Image credit: MOL) Samsung is not the first technology
heavyweight to moot the potential of floating data centers, especially as power demands rise due to AI pressures.

Recent reports detailed how startup Panthalassa, backed by Peter Thiel, is developing floating data centers using wave energy and ocean water cooling systems. What to read next China unveils 'world's first' underwater data center Google and SpaceX are reportedly in talks to build data centers in orbit Many new AI data centers will be built on US drought-hit areas

And in May 226, a floating data center project in Japan gained significant backing from Hitachi , which signed a memorandum with shipping firm Mitsui
OSK Lines to develop and operate the facility.

Chinese authorities and private engineering company HiCloud Technology also recently announced the launch of a jointly-developed $226 million
installation of an underwater data center where sealed server modules operate beneath the ocean using seawater for passive cooling.

This 24-megawatt installation processes artificial intelligence workloads, 5G services, and large-scale data annotation operations requiring substantial computing capacity.

Microsoft also previously tested submerged data center capsules through its Project Natick initiative , conducted near Scotland and California before discontinuing commercial development efforts.

All of this while talks of data centers being sent up into space are playing out, of course, and while it's unclear which may solve the problem long-term, floating data centers certainly look to be more realistic on a shorter timeline.

Via Seoul Economic Daily Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/samsung-says-it-will-launch-a-floating-data-cent er-by-2028-as-it-looks-to-jump-on-a-major-new-opportunity


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)