The facility houses 2,000 servers powered by an offshore wind farm, effectively bypassing the cooling costs that typically claim 40% of a land-based data center’s energy budget. While Microsoft previously tested the concept via Project Natick before shelving it due to maintenance hurdles, China has moved to full commercial operation and is already planning a 500-megawatt expansion.
China Activates World’s First Commercial Underwater Data Center
Six miles off the coast of Shanghai, a $226 million facility now sits 115 feet below the surface of the East China Sea. Built by HiCloud Technology, this underwater data center leverages the surrounding seawater for cooling, marking a bold shift in how the industry handles the massive energy demands of artificial intelligence.
Environmental concerns persist despite the efficiency gains. Researchers warn that heat discharge from submerged servers could trigger toxic algae blooms and deplete oxygen levels in the local marine ecosystem. With a recent UN report projecting global data center water consumption to reach 9.3 trillion liters by 2030, the shift to subsea operations offers a potential remedy for freshwater usage, yet introduces significant risks to oceanic health.
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