EMEC Case Study – Microsoft data centres

Microsoft data centres

Conventional datacentres are exposed to factors such as temperature fluctuations, humidity, corrosion and routine human intervention, all of which can contribute to equipment failures and increased maintenance requirements. Microsoft wanted to test whether underwater datacentres could provide a more reliable and sustainable alternative to traditional land-based facilities. The challenge was to demonstrate that a sealed subsea datacentre could operate reliably in a harsh marine environment while remaining practical to deploy, maintain and recover.

To address this, Microsoft deployed its Project Natick datacentre on the seabed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) test site in Orkney. The datacentre, containing 864 servers, was housed within a sealed, nitrogen-filled steel vessel and installed 117 feet below the surface. Supported by marine specialists, the system operated continuously for two years, with performance and environmental conditions monitored throughout the trial. Following retrieval, the equipment underwent detailed inspection and analysis to assess reliability, environmental impact and operational performance.

The project successfully demonstrated that underwater datacentres are technically, environmentally and economically viable. Analysis showed the servers were eight times more reliable than comparable land-based systems, with significantly lower failure rates. The trial also highlighted potential sustainability benefits, including reduced energy consumption for cooling, compatibility with renewable energy sources and reduced reliance on freshwater resources. The findings provided a strong proof of concept for future underwater and edge-computing infrastructure, while informing Microsoft’s wider datacentre sustainability strategy.