China is making waves in the data center industry by constructing the world’s first commercial underwater data center. The facility, located off the coast of Sanya on Hainan Island, aims to harness the power of cold seawater to cool its operations and significantly reduce energy consumption.
The massive project, spanning 68,000 square meters, will consist of 100 individual data storage units, each weighing 1,300 tons and capable of processing millions of high-definition images in seconds. Construction began in April and is expected to be completed within five years.
As the demand for data processing and cloud services surges globally, data centers are facing increasing pressure to become more energy-efficient. Traditional land-based facilities often require vast amounts of land, water, and electricity. China’s underwater data center offers a potential solution to these challenges.
By submerging the data center, engineers expect to save millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity and thousands of tons of freshwater each year. The cold seawater provides natural cooling, reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling systems. Additionally, the project frees up valuable land resources for other uses.
While other organizations have experimented with underwater data centers, China’s project is the first commercial facility designed to serve a variety of customers. Once completed, it is projected to be significantly more energy-efficient than traditional data centers.