China has unveiled the world’s first commercial underwater data center, marking a groundbreaking achievement in green computing. Officially launched on Tuesday, the commercial project will be located in Shanghai’s Lin-gang Special Area and powered entirely by offshore wind energy.
The initiative — jointly developed by the Lin-gang Special Area Administrative Committee, Shanghai Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group, and Shanghai Hicloud Technology Co., Ltd. — aims to merge computing infrastructure with renewable energy in a bid to meet global demand for low-carbon digital solutions.
“This project establishes a new model for underwater data centers, blending high-quality computing power with AI-ready scenarios,” said Chen Jinshan, head of the Lin-gang administrative committee. “It supports our goal to make Lingang a global hub for AI, cross-border data, and intelligent connectivity.”
Wind-Powered and Water-Cooled
According to the agreement, Hicloud will invest 1.6 billion yuan (approximately $222.7 million) in the two-phase Shanghai Lingang UDC project. The facility will use natural seawater for cooling and offshore wind to supply over 90% of its energy needs — enabling zero carbon emissions.
The first phase involves a 2.3 MW demonstration facility expected to be operational by September 2025. The second phase will scale capacity to 24 MW, targeting a power usage effectiveness (PUE) below 1.15 — a benchmark in energy-efficient data centers.
The world’s first underwater data center will host modular computing units cooled directly by seawater. This reduces refrigeration power usage from up to 50% to under 10%, slashing total energy consumption by 30–40% compared to conventional land-based centers.
Also Read: Amazon to Invest $20B in Expansion of its Data Centers and AI Infrastructure in Pennsylvania
Based on Proven Technology
The project draws inspiration from Hicloud’s successful 2022 deployment in Hainan, which hosts data modules over 30 meters underwater. With over 675 petaflops of computing power and zero server failures to date, the Hainan model proved the feasibility of subsea computing.
Now, Shanghai’s UDC takes the concept further by adding offshore wind integration, making it not only more sustainable but commercially scalable.
The facility is expected to support industries like AI, 5G, industrial IoT, and global e-commerce — further solidifying China’s position as a leader in green tech infrastructure.
FACTSHEET: World’s First Underwater Data Center (Shanghai)
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Location: Lin-gang Special Area, Shanghai
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Developer: Shanghai Hicloud Technology Co., Ltd.
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Investment: ¥1.6 billion (~$222.7 million)
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Power Source: Offshore wind (90%+), zero carbon emissions
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Cooling System: Natural seawater cooling
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Energy Efficiency: PUE < 1.15
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Phase 1: 2.3 MW demo unit (operational by Sept 2025)
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Phase 2: 24 MW full capacity
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Key Benefits:
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30–40% lower energy use vs. land data centers
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Reduced land usage
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No server failures reported in trial models
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Target Applications: AI, 5G, industrial IoT, cross-border e-commerce
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Significance: First commercial deployment of a subsea data center powered by renewable energy
