Professional Diploma in Subsea Data Centres and Ocean Cooling
This professional diploma prepares you to analyse and design solutions that use the ocean to cool digital infrastructure. You will study data centre thermal behaviour, seawater air conditioning (SWAC) systems in coastal facilities, the experimental concept of submerged data centres, their supply from marine renewables, subsea cable connectivity, maintenance and environmental impacts.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this programme gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The programme is designed precisely for that.
What is the Professional Diploma in Subsea Data Centres and Ocean Cooling?
This professional diploma prepares you to analyse and design solutions that use the ocean to cool digital infrastructure. You will analyse the heat generated in data centres and how it is removed, size seawater intakes, heat exchangers and return outfalls, assess subsea pod concepts with their watertightness, reliability and limitations, combine supply from offshore wind and other renewables, plan maintenance and subsea cable connectivity, and evaluate thermal effects, regulations and costs, with a cautious view of a technology line that is still being explored.
What sets this diploma apart: two sectors in one, bringing digital infrastructure and marine engineering together in a single programme; energy efficiency, focusing on cooling as one of the largest loads in data centres; a cautious approach that separates proven coastal solutions from experimental submerged concepts; an environmental view of thermal effects, marine life and life cycle; and a case study in which you carry out the pre-feasibility study of a sea-cooled data centre.
Programme highlights
- Two sectors in one: digital infrastructure and marine engineering in a single programme.
- Energy efficiency: cooling, one of the largest loads in data centres.
- Cautious approach: proven coastal solutions and experimental submerged concepts.
- Environmental view: thermal effects, marine life and life cycle.
- Renewable supply: offshore wind, wave and tidal energy and storage.
- Case study: pre-feasibility study of a sea-cooled data centre.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Subsea Data Centres and Ocean Cooling
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Digital infrastructure and energy
- 1.1. Growth of data centres
- 1.2. Energy consumption of the sector
- 1.3. Efficiency indicators such as PUE
- 1.4. Digital carbon footprint
- 1.5. Water and data centres
- 1.6. Location of infrastructure
- 1.7. Coastal data centres
- 1.8. Sector trends
Data centre thermal design and cooling
- 2.1. Heat generation in servers
- 2.2. Air cooling
- 2.3. Liquid cooling
- 2.4. Immersion in dielectric fluids
- 2.5. Free cooling
- 2.6. Cooling towers
- 2.7. Heat recovery
- 2.8. Thermal design of data halls
Seawater air conditioning (SWAC)
- 3.1. Principle of seawater cooling
- 3.2. Surface and deep-water intakes
- 3.3. Subsea pipelines
- 3.4. Heat exchangers
- 3.5. Corrosion-resistant materials
- 3.6. Biofouling control
- 3.7. Return outfall and thermal dilution
- 3.8. Applications in buildings and industry
Submerged data centres
- 4.1. The subsea pod concept
- 4.2. Experimental projects
- 4.3. Watertightness and pressure
- 4.4. Inert atmospheres and reliability
- 4.5. Heat dissipation to the sea
- 4.6. Installation and recovery
- 4.7. Limitations and risks
- 4.8. Development prospects
Marine renewable energy and power supply
- 5.1. Supply from the coastal grid
- 5.2. Integration with offshore wind
- 5.3. Wave and tidal current energy
- 5.4. Energy storage
- 5.5. Reliability of supply
- 5.6. Subsea power cables
- 5.7. Renewable energy contracts
- 5.8. Self-consumption at coastal sites
Connectivity, operation and security
- 6.1. Subsea fibre optic cables
- 6.2. Latency and proximity to users
- 6.3. Remote monitoring
- 6.4. Lights-out maintenance
- 6.5. Replacing equipment
- 6.6. Physical and logical cybersecurity
- 6.7. Incident management
- 6.8. End of life of equipment
Environmental impact, regulation and economics
- 7.1. Local thermal effects
- 7.2. Marine life and water intakes
- 7.3. Noise and electromagnetic fields
- 7.4. Life cycle assessment
- 7.5. Occupation of the maritime public domain
- 7.6. Marine spatial planning
- 7.7. Capital and operating costs
- 7.8. Comparison with onshore solutions
Case study: pre-feasibility of a sea-cooled data centre
- 8.1. Defining demand
- 8.2. Site selection
- 8.3. Choice of cooling system
- 8.4. Preliminary sizing
- 8.5. Power supply
- 8.6. Environmental analysis
- 8.7. Economic estimate
- 8.8. Conclusions and presentation
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Subsea Data Centres and Ocean Cooling
It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Subsea Data Centres and Ocean Cooling
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Subsea Data Centres and Ocean Cooling
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Subsea Data Centres and Ocean Cooling
No. They have been the subject of experimental projects; seawater cooling in coastal facilities is the most mature application, and the programme treats each with the corresponding caution.
A system that uses cold seawater as a heat sink to cool buildings or facilities, reducing electricity consumption.
Yes. Thermal effects, water intakes, marine life, noise, electromagnetic fields and life cycle assessment are all analysed.
Not in depth. The focus is on thermal, energy and marine infrastructure rather than on computing itself.
You carry out a pre-feasibility study of a seawater-cooled data centre at a coastal site, from demand and cooling system choice to power supply, environmental analysis and costs.
Fully online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each, ending with a case study in which you apply what you have learned to a complete pre-feasibility study.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
- Profile: a degree in industrial, telecommunications, computer, naval or energy engineering or a related field, or professional experience in data centres, HVAC or the maritime sector.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrolmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enrol
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.