China opens wind-powered underwater data center

A China opened the world’s first wind-powered underwater data centerlocated in the Lin-gang Special Area, in Shanghai, an economic zone focused on technological innovation and international trade. In initial phasethe system is already capable of generating 2,3 MegaWatts (MW)with expansion plans to 24 MW in future stages.

Installation is without a doubt a unprecedented advance in the search for energy efficiency in digital infrastructure. Combining offshore wind energy with the natural cooling of sea waterthe innovative project aims to drastically reduce the costs and environmental impact of data storage and processing.

Wind energy and natural cooling

The proposal starts from a simple and efficient concept: taking advantage of the marine environment to minimize energy and water consumption. It is estimated that the Traditional data centers use until 19 million liters of water per dayjust to cool the equipment — equivalent to the daily consumption of a city of 10 to 50 thousand inhabitants, according to the New Atlas portal.

In the Chinese case, underwater water and soil act as natural cooling agents, reducing the need for artificial systems and energy expenditure. THE Xinhua agency informs that consumption dedicated to refrigeration fell to less than 10% of the total, while the Fresh water use has been reduced by more than 90%.

In terms of overall efficiency, energy savings reach 22,8% compared to conventional centers.

The result could mean a relevant transformation for a sector increasingly pressured by energy demand, especially with the expansion of artificial intelligence, 5G and from Internet of Things (IoT).

Our aim is to prove that digital infrastructure can grow without burdening the environment. The sea offers peculiar conditions for this

Engineer at Shanghai Hailanyun Technologythe company responsible for developing the project

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Billion-dollar project and global ambitions

With an estimated investment of 1.6 billion yuan (nearly R$ 1.2 billion), the Data Center was planned to operate in a modular and scalable manner. In the current phase, it serves as demonstration pilot projecttesting the performance of the submerged structure and its integration with near-shore wind turbines.

In addition to data storage, the installation must power artificial intelligence systems, 5G networks and e-commerce platformsstrategic sectors for the Chinese economy and which require high processing capacity.

The second stage provides ten times more power than the current one, but there is still no official date for the expansion. The challenge, according to experts, is to maintain maintenance and stable connectivity in an underwater environment, conditions still in the experimental phase.

Challenges and environmental impact

Although the concept of an underwater Data Center is not entirely new (Microsoft had already tested similar prototypes in 2018), the Chinese project’s difference is the direct integration with renewable sourcesmainly offshore wind energy.

The model promises to reduce carbon footprint and water waste, problems that have become critical for companies in the technology sector. In some countries, such as Mexico, data centers from large corporations have been accused of contributing to shortage of energy and water resources in local communities.

By migrating part of the operation to the sea, China seeks better distribute your digital infrastructure and, at the same time, reduce environmental pressure in urban areas — an issue that also concerns authorities in other countries.

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Trend that dives deep

Shanghai’s underwater project opens a new phase in the way the world views sustainable digital infrastructure. Although it depends on technical adjustments and long-term assessments, the proposal shows the potential of combining energy innovation and data architecture in alternative environments.

As global demand for computing grows, solutions like this could alter the balance between technology and the environment… A challenge that, ironically, can be found in depths of the ocean the path to a more efficient future.

Source: New Atlas and Xinhua

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