Data centres, the powerhouses behind AI, cloud services, and streaming, consume over 1% of global electricity, with nearly 40% spent on cooling. As demand rises, sustainable alternatives are urgent.

A team from IIT Bombay has introduced a groundbreaking solution: Deep Seawater Cooling (DSWC). By channeling naturally cold water from ocean depths through pipelines to land-based facilities, data centres could slash energy use by up to 79%. Their study even shows a payback period of just eight months.

Using the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a prototype, researchers identified seawater at 2,770 meters depth maintaining a stable 18°C year-round, perfect for reliable cooling. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes and tailored insulation strategies were recommended to ensure efficiency and durability in marine conditions.

Beyond data centres, the system could benefit hospitals, industrial units, and even desalination plants in coastal regions. However, its feasibility is highest in islands and coastal cities with easy access to deep, cold waters.

If scaled with global cooperation and green financing, DSWC could transform digital infrastructure, cut carbon emissions, and offer developing nations, especially island states, a path toward energy-efficient growth.