Could there be data centres on the moon?
Houston, we have a heat problem. Earth’s data centres are growing fast, and so is their environmental impact. From their unquenchable thirst to their vast size, the local communities that surround these sites have had enough. But could there be a way to move this mess… off-world?
While this idea might seem like it came straight out of a Philip K. Dick novel, the sci-fi notion of putting data centres on the Moon is becoming more and more of a reality.
The current state of play
Whether you like them or not, massive data centres are necessary to power the digital infrastructure we all rely on to store our documents, save key data, and run our businesses. But for some, the day-to-day impact of these data centres is felt much more acutely.
Residents of Mansfield, Georgia, who live just down the road from Meta and Blackstone’s massive AI data centre, have reported high levels of noise pollution, unusually low water pressure, and rapidly rising energy bills. And these aren’t the only people affected – recently approved projects, like the AWS data centre in Dublin and Elon Musk’s “Colossus” supercomputer in Memphis, have left locals fearing for the environmental impact on not only their homes but the planet itself.
As AI technology continues to advance, these massive data centres are becoming a non-negotiable for businesses hoping to innovate. But should that really be at the expense of normal people simply trying to wash their dishes or turn on their radiators?
Planet B: Should we consider data centres on the Moon?
Futurists and aerospace engineers believe they’ve come up with a viable alternative. Data centres… in orbit. One company has already gone so far as to successfully send a tiny data centre (about the size of a hardback book) to the Moon and back.
According to them, building a data centre on the Moon or sending one into orbit could have manifold benefits – from ensuring more reliable data processing for customers to harnessing the unlimited solar energy offered by space. Not to mention, these centres would be nearly 238,855 miles away from any local communities back on Earth.
“Data centres on the Moon might seem outlandish, but if we view the acceleration of AI as a genuine and immediate environmental crisis, it’s possible that off-planet data centres may arrive sooner than we think,” adds Fasthosts Managing Director, Rupert Bedell. “History shows that a crisis can trigger rapid technological advances (just look at how the pandemic impacted our working culture), so if Big Tech is taking this problem seriously then what seems impossible may be within reach.”
Is it feasible or just fantasy?
While data centres on the Moon may be theoretically possible – and have been tested on a small scale – the feasibility of a space-based data centre is still up for debate. For one, cooling is a major issue, as conventional cooling systems don’t work well without gravity.
Then you’ve got the weather to take into consideration (yes, space does have weather), with frequent storms and debris posing a risk to delicate electronics. If damage does occur, getting it repaired is going to take more than an engineer and their humble truck. And that’s all before considering how we even transport these data centres to space in the first place.
These factors are partly what has led Microsoft to investigate the viability of storing their data somewhat closer to home… albeit deep underwater. Their ongoing research, Project Natick, has already found that these underwater data centres are reliable, practical, and able to run on sustainable energy.
But despite the potential issues posed by space, many companies remain unfazed, determined to be the first to get their data centres off the ground. In fact, some are so confident that they already have their first customers lined up.
What we should be doing here and now
No one is sending a fully functional data centre into space tomorrow. Realistically, it will be a few years before we even have the technology to start thinking about permanently putting our data on the Moon. So in the meantime, why don’t we focus our efforts closer to home?
Many communities are already calling for local innovation to address some of the key environmental challenges people are currently facing. Renewable energy firm Apatura announced in June 2025 that they would be transforming the former Ravenscraig steelworks site in Scotland into a green AI hub, including a massive data centre powered by renewable energy.
As business owners and tech leaders, we have a duty to be the change we want to see in the world. So, when choosing your partners or investing your capital, ensure you’re prioritising sustainable, local projects before turning your attention to the skies.
Don’t shoot for the Moon – shift your mindset
We understand that looking to the Moon may be tempting. After all, it’s like a shiny, bright toy that only a handful of people have been lucky enough to play with. But when it comes to making our planet a better place, we shouldn’t let this temptation cloud our judgement.
At Fasthosts, we’re committed to powering our data centres with 100% green energy. So when you choose to host your website or source your domain name from us, you can do it with the confidence that you’re making a difference down here on Earth.