LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Forget the Royal Navy and the U.S. Marines -- the 'computer navy ' is on its way , and digital media on the high seas are set to make a steaming comeback . New home ? Barges like this one could soon play host to Google 's massive data centers . It seemed that floating media firms were a thing of the past when the United Kingdom 's last major offshore pirate radio station , Radio Caroline , followed other European and American examples and died out in the early 1990s . But , fast-forward 20 years and enter Internet giant Google . According to a patent application seen by London newspaper `` The Times , '' Google is considering launching barges up to seven miles ( 11km ) offshore to host the massive data centers required to run its Internet search engines . The plan would likely see the data centers -- which consist of huge supercomputers -- use wave energy to power and cool themselves while stationed at sea . In the application Google states : `` Computing centers are located on a ship or ships , anchored in a water body from which energy from natural motion of the water may be captured , and turned into electricity and/or pumping power for cooling pumps to carry heat away . '' Energy consumption is undoubtedly a massive issue for these giant data centers . The servers within each data center need to be air-conditioned to prevent overheating -- and considering a company such as IBM runs approximately eight million square feet of servers -- that 's a lot of required cooling . According to a 2005 study by Stanford University consulting professor and Lawrence Berkeley National Labs staff scientist , Jonathan Koomey , the energy consumption of data centers doubled in the period from 2000 to 2005 . The total annual worldwide power bill for the servers at the time was an estimated $ 7.2 billion , according to Koomey . The Internet has continued to grow at a rapid rate and other major companies have also been searching for a more efficient method of maintaining their data centers . Microsoft has looked into taking advantage of a cold climate by constructing a data center in Siberia , while Sun Microsystems is reported to be sending its computers down a former coal mine , using water below the ground as a coolant . But , how workable is Google 's project , really ? And does it mark a potential new future for the maritime industry ? Dr Brad Karp , reader in Computer Systems and Networks at University College London , described the move as `` an audacious risk '' that will push the boundaries for major companies in future . Karp said the project would carry significant risks , but potentially very high rewards . `` Anytime you take on several new technologies at the one time -- and you are trying to build something highly reliable -- there are going to be real technical challenges , which there will be for these data centers , '' he said . Some major benefits of Google 's project include being able to save money on rent and property taxes by being positioned offshore , as well as saving money on electricity bills . `` If you look at the percentage of power being used by these centers ... it seems like a good long-term bet for the future , '' Karp told CNN . Karp believes Google could also benefit from snaring a `` green '' image if it is able to harness wave motion to power the computers and their cooling systems , in addition to providing a quality service to users . `` One of the reasons Google has data centers around the world is to enhance the user experiences near where many of their users are . This will still allow them to do that . '' He said there were some logistical issues , but if the ships were stationed not far from the coast , they should not have too many operational concerns . `` At that distance ( 11km ) you would want to provide wired network activity -- some sort of under-sea cable . The sheer bit-rate needed for an operation like this is usually too high for most wireless systems , '' Karp said . Karp does point out there could be plenty of maintenance required on such a system : `` The sea is not exactly a friendly environment for cables . '' Although some commentators have raised concerns about the ships leaving themselves open to attack , Karp did not feel it was a major issue . `` It 's not the kind of thing you see reported on very often . Typically the kind of things we worry about more is network-based attacks . '' Current data centers are defended by corporate-type security consisting of reception desks and electronically guarded entrances . Karp envisages a similar level of protection for the centers at sea , potentially using a protective barrier or guarding vessels . If this project is realized , it offers the potential to alter not only online commerce , but also introduces the potential for new strands of business in the maritime industry . Maritime eCommerce Association spokesman Ake Nilson said : `` So far as I know there is n't anything quite like it . We have n't really seen anything like this since the old pirate radio stations . '' Nilson says that if the project goes ahead -- and more companies attempt to adopt a similar program -- it could provide a sizable boost to the maritime industry through the ships and workers required to establish , run , protect and maintain such operations .
Google has sent a patent application to launch barges to host its data centers . Comment: The project would save Google money on power bills , rent , and property tax . Such projects have the potential to boost to the maritime industry .