In a move that could redefine sustainable computing worldwide, China is building a cutting-edge underwater data center off the coast of Shanghai, leveraging ocean water for cooling and powering the facility with offshore wind energy.
According to Scientific American, the project, led by the company Hailanyun, is located six miles off Shanghai’s coast and marks a significant shift in digital infrastructure design. The submerged data center will initially house up to 792 AI-capable servers, using at least 30% less electricity than its land-based counterparts. This reduction is primarily due to the innovative cooling approach that uses naturally cold seawater, eliminating the need for massive amounts of freshwater and mechanical cooling systems.
Traditional data centers consume enormous amounts of energy, with cooling alone accounting for around 40% of total power usage. Most rely on freshwater for heat removal, placing added stress on water resources, especially in drier regions. China’s ocean-based design sidesteps this issue while reducing carbon emissions by connecting the data center to a nearby offshore wind farm for nearly all its energy needs.
While still modest in scale compared to traditional land-based centers, Hailanyun aims to expand rapidly, potentially outpacing previous underwater data experiments conducted by U.S. tech giants such as Microsoft. Although Microsoft had explored similar ventures, the company has since paused further development.
Despite environmental assessments suggesting minimal impact from heat discharge into surrounding waters, some experts have raised concerns about the risk of local marine warming during heat waves and the potential for security vulnerabilities, including underwater sound-based attacks.
Nevertheless, China’s innovative model is drawing international attention. Countries like South Korea, Japan and Singapore are reportedly exploring similar marine-based solutions as they seek to balance AI expansion with environmental responsibility.
The Shanghai underwater data center could signal a pivotal moment in green tech infrastructure, blending digital ambition with ecological awareness beneath the waves.
Shongjog 