Plans for a £20m computer complex in Inverness have been submitted to Highland Council.
Dingwall-based IT firm Alchemy Plus wants to build the facility on land next to Inverness harbour in the Longman industrial estate.
The company said it will provide employment for 40 people, but will also create spin-off jobs.
The aim of the centre is to offer an alternative to storing data on individual PCs.
The region's colder weather will help cool the many computers needed, while heat generated by the computers will be offered as a way of warming nearby buildings.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8512472.stm