So far, everything you've read is available and being done, or at least being explored in test conditions. But why stop there when there's still room for further improvement? Here are a few blue-sky ideas...

I take full credit and/or blame for this idea. Why not put servers inside turbine wheels, and drop them -- tethered by coax fiber -- into the water. The water motion on the turbine supplies power, the water movement keeps the server cool. For maximum heat exchange, (and to avoid buoyancy problems), use liquid-immersion cooling on the servers, like from . For extra credit -- being careful to put wire mesh screens around the servers -- farm salmon, clams and/or tilapia, since the water may be warmer than otherwise.

Speaking of location, with air-based power generation , how about airborne data center modules, generating power and getting air-cooled without consuming ground footprint? (Granted, an easy target for air pirates armed with six-foot bolt cutters.) Or even larger ones in lighter-than-air dirigible housings?

My favorite suggestion comes from Perry R. Szarka, Solution Consultant III at system integrator : "How about a combination micro-brewery and datacenter? The idea would be for the beer to participate in the datacenter cooling process somehow as it goes through the distillation/fermentation process. The microbrewery side could perhaps feature a bar where patrons could view the beer through large windows and clear glass tubing as it moves along through the system. I guess this could be the ultimate datacenter liquid cooling concept, at least for the datacenter administrators who I have met!"

What innovative data center practices are you seeing? Or do you have some blue-sky ideas of your own?