Business · Companies · 15 hrs ago
Four Japanese companies plan to use data center heat to raise shrimp
NTT Docomo Business and three partners will test shrimp farming using data center waste heat in Japan.
The heat from data center cooling equipment would warm the water used to raise whiteleg shrimp, a type commonly farmed for food.
Data centers use more electricity as generative AI spreads, but their relatively low-temperature waste heat has few uses.
Land-based shrimp farms also use energy to keep their water at a steady temperature, so the companies hope the heat can help address both problems.
In fiscal 2026, they will study how to collect suitable heat, then plan to raise shrimp in fiscal 2027 and assess energy savings and effects on data center operations.
The trial runs through March 2028, and the companies aim to develop a business model that could work at other data centers.
Selling the shrimp is only a possibility if they are ready for market; no buyer or schedule has been decided.
Four companies plan to test whether waste heat from a data center can be used to raise shrimp.
The project will first study heat recovery in fiscal 2026, then use the recovered heat to raise Pacific white shrimp in fiscal 2027.
The heat will be used to warm the water in which the shrimp are kept.
The companies aim to reduce energy use for heating aquaculture water and make use of low-temperature data center waste heat.
The trial is due to run until March 2028, after which the companies hope to develop a business model that could be used at other data centers.
- Who
- NTT Docomo Business, IMT Engineering, Hibiya General Equipment and NTT Green & Food.
- What
- They plan to test using data center waste heat to raise Pacific white shrimp.
- When
- The project was announced on November 13, 2026. Heat recovery methods will be studied in fiscal 2026, with shrimp farming planned for fiscal 2027.
- Where
- At an NTT Docomo Business data center near Tokyo.
- Why
- The companies aim to use low-temperature waste heat and reduce the energy needed to maintain water temperatures in land-based aquaculture.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The four companies announced the demonstration project.
The companies plan to assess the waste heat’s temperature and volume and test ways to recover it for aquaculture.
The companies plan to raise Pacific white shrimp using recovered heat.
The demonstration period is scheduled to end.
- Participating companies
- NTT Docomo Business, IMT Engineering, Hibiya General Equipment and NTT Green & Food
- Planned species
- Pacific white shrimp
- Project site
- An NTT Docomo Business data center near Tokyo
- Trial end
- March 2028
- Shrimp growth period
- 16 to 18 weeks
What people are saying
Vannamei shrimp has been the subject of advanced research in land-based aquaculture, and technology has been established to raise them in a very short period of 16 to 18 weeks.
If they are in a condition to be shipped after the demonstration ends, we will consider shipping them.