On the coast of Shanghai, in the Lingang Special Area, the world’s first underwater data center has begun operating, drawing the bulk of its energy from offshore wind turbines.
The main difference of the center lies in its cooling system. Instead of the traditional use of large amounts of freshwater, heat from the servers is transferred through a sealed system directly into the marine environment. This approach makes it possible to significantly reduce the use of valuable water resources. An additional advantage is that the required area has been cut by more than 90% compared with conventional land-based data centers.
According to the developers, the heat exchange system with copper pipes reduces energy consumption by 22.8%. About 95% of the electricity needed comes from offshore wind turbines. The facility is currently operating at 2.3 megawatts, but there are plans to increase this to 24 megawatts in the future, which is comparable to supplying power to about 20,000 homes.
Experts note that underwater placement of equipment can significantly reduce cooling costs. At the same time, the technology requires further study, especially in terms of equipment durability and its impact on the marine ecosystem. Even so, the launch of the facility is seen as an important step in the development of a more sustainable digital infrastructure.
