November 14, 2007

Sun, 10 Other IT Firms To Build Energy-Saving Underground Data Center

Sun Microsystems and 10 other IT firms plan to build an underground data center in Japan, Nikkei reports. It will consume up to 50 percent less power than conventional facilities by using groundwater as coolant. Over $400 million is being invested in the project.

For the project, Sun will offer its Project Blackbox method using shipping containers.

Specifically, data centers comprising 10,000 server computers will be built into 30 shipping containers for installation 100 meters below ground at a former mine, JCN Network reports. The location of the site, somewhere in central Japan’s Chubu region, was not disclosed for security reasons.

Other firms to be involved include Internet Initiative Japan, BearingPoint, Itochu Techno-Solutions, NS Solutions. A joint venture will be established within the year.

Scheduled to start up in 2010, the site’s temperature is stable at 59 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, Web Host Industry Review reports. Underground mines have the added advantage for data centers of being easier to secure, particularly against terrorist attacks.

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