A new underwater data center project in China aims to address significant water scarcity issues associated with traditional data centers. Located in the Lin-gang Special Area of Shanghai, this initiative has attracted attention due to its innovative approach to cooling and energy consumption. With a budget of approximately $226 million, the facility has successfully completed its initial construction phase, marking a potential shift in how data centers operate globally.
The primary challenge with conventional data centers is their substantial use of local water supplies for cooling. This has often led to exacerbated water shortages in various regions. The submerged design of the new data center intends to eliminate this issue by utilizing the ocean for cooling instead. According to reports, the facility has a total power capacity of 24 megawatts, comparable to standard data centers that existed before the rise of artificial intelligence.
The energy requirements for this facility are also noteworthy. A report from McKinsey highlights that data centers, which previously averaged tens of megawatts, are projected to operate at the gigawatt scale in the near future. In this case, over 95 percent of the energy required for the data center is expected to be sourced from offshore wind turbines. However, the wind energy is not generated on-site but rather transmitted from external locations.
While the concept of underwater data centers presents an intriguing solution, it is not without its potential drawbacks. Concerns have been raised regarding the thermal impact these facilities could have on marine ecosystems. A similar project proposed by NetworkOcean in the United States faced regulatory scrutiny due to fears that even minor temperature variations could lead to harmful algae blooms and negatively affect local wildlife. Experts noted that any increase in water temperature could disrupt delicate ecosystems, potentially causing invasive species to thrive and harm native marine life.
The implications of these concerns were documented in a 2022 study that suggested underwater data centers could contribute to serious environmental issues if not properly managed. Increased ocean temperatures could lead to deoxygenation, resulting in marine animals suffocating in their habitat.
In contrast, the Chinese project seems to have adhered to local regulatory standards, receiving an assessment from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, which operates under a government ministry. This regulatory compliance indicates a more streamlined process for innovative projects in China compared to the often complex landscape faced by similar initiatives in the United States.
China has ambitious goals regarding energy efficiency in its data centers. A press release from a Chinese government website last year announced plans to reduce the average power usage effectiveness (PUE) of data centers to 1.5 by the end of 2025. Currently, the global average PUE stands at about 1.56, suggesting that significant improvements are necessary to meet these targets.
The contrasting regulatory environments in China and the United States highlight the challenges and opportunities for innovation in the tech sector. While China appears to be moving forward with its underwater data center project, the complexities faced by companies like NetworkOcean in the U.S. serve as a reminder of the potential hurdles when introducing disruptive technologies.
As the demand for data centers continues to grow, exploring alternative cooling methods that minimize environmental impact will be crucial. The success of the submerged data center in Shanghai could pave the way for similar projects worldwide, provided that potential ecological concerns are adequately addressed. The ocean is a vast and interconnected resource that nations share, and it remains to be seen whether this innovative approach will prove to be a sustainable solution for the future of data management.
