Underwater Data Centers: The Future of Green Technology

The Data Center Industry's Revolutionary Underwater Expansion

In recent years, the data center industry has experienced explosive growth as technology companies seek to develop the immense computing power required to operate complex operations such as artificial intelligence (AI). Thousands of data centers are being developed on land, but now several countries are considering establishing innovative models at alternative locations, including underwater.

In May, China launched the world's first wind-powered underwater data center offshore Shanghai, with an investment of approximately $238 million. The 24 MW capacity Shanghai Lingang experimental data center was developed by HiCloud Technology and China Communications Construction - a state-owned enterprise. Located more than 10 miles from the Shanghai coast and submerged at a depth of 10 meters underwater, the center is primarily powered by an offshore wind farm.

The Shanghai Underwater Data Center: A Breakthrough Green Model

The data center was developed in the Lingang Special Area, part of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. According to Chinese government data, the data center's electricity demand is less than one-fifth of equivalent land-based centers because it is powered by green energy.

Additionally, the center is naturally cooled by being submerged underwater, significantly reducing the burden on freshwater resources. In traditional land-based data centers, 25-40% of a facility's electricity demand comes from the need to circulate cold water around servers to prevent overheating - a practice that often draws opposition from environmental activists and local residents.

According to the Chinese government report: "Compared to traditional land-based data centers, the project is designed to use over 95% green electricity, reduce energy consumption by 22.8%, and decrease water and land usage by 100% and over 90% respectively."

Global Context and Environmental Challenges

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health predicts that global data centers could use up to 9.3 trillion liters of water by 2030, enough to meet the drinking water needs of approximately 1.3 billion people. Therefore, it is essential for facility developers to seek innovative alternatives for data center development and operation.

The Chinese government has strongly supported data center development, both in terms of policy and funding. According to a United Nations report, among the 32 countries with AI data centers, about 90% of these facilities are located in China and the United States. Both China and the United States aim to become market leaders in AI and other complex computing operations.

While many U.S. data centers are powered by fossil fuels such as natural gas, China is increasingly shifting toward green energy to meet its energy demands, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and enhance energy security in the coming decades.

Competitors and Innovative Models

Microsoft and the Underwater Project in Scotland

HiCloud previously launched the world's first commercial underwater data center on tropical Hainan Island in 2023. However, Shanghai Lingang is the first underwater data center powered by offshore wind energy, potentially serving as a model for green development.

Microsoft also began developing its first underwater data center near Orkney in Scotland in 2018 with promising initial results. However, little progress has been reported in recent years.

Dr. Hanjiang Dong of the University of Hong Kong explains: "Microsoft was ahead in proving the concept, while China has gone further in commercial deployment because they can quickly integrate market demand, industrial capability, maritime engineering, and policy support into a commercial project."

Samsung and Floating Data Centers

In other parts of Asia, in South Korea, Samsung Heavy Industries is also developing new data center technology as it seeks to deploy floating facilities on ships. Samsung Heavy Industries, a South Korean shipbuilding company under the renowned Samsung Group, recently signed an agreement with Greek shipping firm Capital Clean Energy Carriers to develop existing ships into data centers from the ground up.

Samsung has created a 50 MW floating data center model, approved by the American Bureau of Shipping and Lloyd's Register, that can run on self-generating power systems or electricity from land. The company now needs to develop practical prototypes to see if the project is commercially viable.

Hitachi and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Collaboration

Recently, Hitachi and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines also signed a memorandum of understanding to develop floating systems to house self-sustaining AI data centers. Their model differs from Samsung's in that it relies on converting existing vessels into retrofitted data facilities. Again, proximity to large bodies of water is expected to help reduce the burden on freshwater resources.

The Future of Underwater and Floating Data Centers

Companies are becoming more creative in developing data centers, aiming to reduce their impact on the local environment. As consumers and governments oppose data center development, companies are forced to make data centers greener by switching to renewable energy and reducing freshwater and land use.

While the risks associated with developing underwater data centers are somewhat unknown, they could affect marine ecosystems, such as disturbing sediments or heating seawater. However, industry experts suggest that the temperature increase may be localized and controllable.

The development of underwater and floating data centers represents a significant step toward sustainable technology infrastructure, meeting the growing demand for computing power while minimizing environmental impact. As companies continue to invest and innovate in this field, we can expect to see more successful commercial models in the near future.