Imagine a data center humming beneath the waves, powered almost entirely by offshore wind. This week, in east China's Shanghai Municipality, engineers completed the world's first wind-powered underwater data center (UDC), setting a new standard for sustainable computing.
Located in the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the UDC represents a 1.6 billion yuan investment (around $226 million) and packs a 24 megawatt capacity into its submerged shell. By tapping into more than 95% green electricity, the project cuts traditional power draw by 22.8% while eliminating land use and reducing water consumption by over 90%.
Beyond the raw numbers, this UDC is a milestone in integrating offshore renewable energy with digital infrastructure. It delivers a proof of concept for low-carbon data hubs and highlights how coastal regions can harness wind power while freeing up precious land and freshwater resources.
For young global citizens, tech entrepreneurs, and sustainability advocates, the Shanghai UDC offers a glimpse into the future of computing: modular, submerged, and almost self-cooling by design. As the project goes live, questions emergecould underwater data hubs become the next frontier for cloud services? How might this model scale across other windy coasts?
One thing's clear: the world is watching as China charts a path toward greener digital ecosystems. This landmark project could inspire a wave of offshore data centers, driving down emissions and reshaping where and how we store information.
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China completes world's first wind-powered underwater data center
cgtn.com
