In a significant advancement for sustainable technology, China has inaugurated the world’s first commercially operational underwater data center (UDC), which is powered by an offshore wind farm in Shanghai. Launched in the coastal region near the Lin-gang Special Area of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, this project symbolizes the integration of renewable energy with computing infrastructure, aiming to meet the growing demand for low-carbon solutions.
The establishment of the UDC was formalized through a cooperation agreement signed by key stakeholders, including the Lin-gang administrative committee and Shanghai Hicloud Technology Co., Ltd. Chen Jinshan, leader of the administrative committee, remarked that this initiative serves as a template for future UDCs, positioning Lingang as an essential hub for global data traffic and AI technology.
Hicloud is set to invest around 1.6 billion yuan (approximately $222.7 million) into the Shanghai Lingang UDC, creating a data cluster with a 24-megawatt (MW) capacity that utilizes renewable energy and advanced cooling systems. The facility will utilize seawater for cooling and be primarily powered by wind energy, achieving a goal of zero carbon emissions.
With the first phase, a 2.3 MW demonstration unit, designated as a national model for green innovation, slated to be operational by September, the project aims for energy efficiency rates below 1.15 and a substantial decrease in energy consumption compared to traditional, land-based data centers.
Source: news.cgtn.com
