China Opens World's First Wind-Powered Underwater Data Center
Original: China Opens World’s First Wind-Powered Underwater Data Center
Why This Matters
Demonstrates innovative approach to sustainable data center cooling for AI infrastructure
China has launched the world's first underwater data center powered by wind energy off Shanghai's coast. The $236 million facility has 24 megawatts capacity and uses seawater cooling to achieve 1.15 PUE efficiency.
The underwater data center is located 10 meters deep in Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Zone, developed through collaboration between HiCloud Technology and China Communications Construction with a $236 million investment. The facility uses seawater as natural cooling, reducing cooling energy consumption to under 10% compared to 40-50% in conventional data centers. The complex achieves a power usage effectiveness of 1.15, considered state-of-the-art. According to the Chinese government, the project uses over 95% green electricity, reducing energy consumption by 22.8% and eliminating water and land use by 100% and 90% respectively. This follows HiCloud's first commercial underwater data center in Hainan in 2023, but Shanghai marks the first wind-powered facility. The initiative supports China's strategy to secure renewable energy supplies for AI development, as the country hosts about 45% of global AI-specialized data centers alongside the United States.