In a groundbreaking leap for green tech, Shanghai has officially launched the world's first commercial underwater data center powered entirely by an offshore wind farm. This innovative project merges renewable energy with high-performance computing to tackle the growing demand for low-carbon digital infrastructure.
Located off the coast of the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the two-phase project is backed by a 1.6 billion yuan investment (about $222.7 million) from Shanghai Hicloud Technology Co., Ltd. and local authorities. Phase one, a 2.3 MW demonstration facility, is set to go live in September and has already been named a national model for green, low-carbon innovation by the National Development and Reform Commission.
When fully scaled to a 24 MW underwater data cluster, the center will source over 90% of its power from offshore wind, achieve a power usage effectiveness (PUE) below 1.15, and zero carbon emissions. Natural seawater cooling slashes refrigeration energy use from as much as 50% of total power to under 10%, cutting overall consumption by 30-40% compared to land-based data centers.
Beyond energy savings, the underwater design frees up valuable land, offering a solution to the space constraints that challenge many urban tech hubs. By co-locating computing modules directly with renewable energy and efficient cooling, the Shanghai Lingang UDC project sets a new benchmark for sustainable digital infrastructure.
As data demand surges and climate goals tighten, this offshore, wind-powered UDC could inspire similar projects worldwide. Young innovators, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders will be watching closely as Shanghai's model evolves into a global standard for green computing power.
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Shanghai debuts world's first wind-powered underwater data center
cgtn.com
