China Ignites the World’s First Wind-Powered Underwater Data Center
China has officially activated the world’s first offshore wind-powered underwater data center, marking a significant milestone in sustainable computing infrastructure. The Shanghai Lingang Undersea Data Center, a collaborative effort between HiCloud Technology and China Communications Construction, commenced full commercial operations in May 2026 and has been making global headlines since then.
Located approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) off the coast of Shanghai’s Lingang Special Area and submerged nearly 10 meters below the sea surface, the facility boasts a planned operational capacity of 24 megawatts — enough to power around 20,000 homes. It houses nearly 2,000 servers, including advanced GPU clusters designed for AI training, big data processing, and 5G infrastructure support. Offshore wind farms supply approximately 95% of the facility’s electricity via subsea photoelectric composite cables, while the surrounding ocean serves as a natural passive cooling system — completely eliminating the need for freshwater.
According to the developers, the innovative design slashes electricity consumption by over 22%, reduces land use by more than 90% compared to traditional data centers, and maintains a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating of approximately 1.15 — a figure far more efficient than typical land-based facilities. The $228 million project is a response to the AI-driven demand for computing power, which continues to put unprecedented pressure on global energy grids and water resources. A much larger 500 MW follow-up facility is already in the planning stages.
Source: Republic World – China Switches On World’s First Wind-Powered Underwater Data Centre