TLDRs;
- China launches the world’s first commercial underwater data center in Hainan’s Lingshui County.
- The subsea facility uses seawater for cooling, cutting energy use by up to 90%.
- Each 1,300-ton cabin can host up to 500 servers, signaling a leap in China’s “blue economy.”
- The project aligns with China’s plan to build 100 underwater data cabins over the next five years.
China has officially launched the world’s first commercial underwater data center off the coast of Lingshui, Hainan, marking a technological and environmental milestone.
The project, managed by Shenzhen HiCloud Data Centre Technology, places servers in a 1,300-ton submerged cabin, the equivalent weight of 1,000 passenger cars, resting 35 meters underwater.
This underwater data center is designed to leverage the ocean’s natural cooling power, significantly reducing the need for air conditioning systems that typically account for nearly 40% of a data center’s total energy consumption. According to project manager Pu Ding, the seawater environment naturally regulates server temperatures, reducing both operational costs and energy waste.
Building the Foundation of a Blue Economy
The Hainan government has made clear its ambition to turn the island into a hub for marine technology and sustainable digital infrastructure. Under its Fourteenth Five-Year Plan, Hainan aims to deploy 100 underwater data cabins, creating a networked subsea data estate to serve the province’s expanding “blue economy.”
Officials see the project as a magnet for foreign investment, a catalyst for innovation, and a way to meet the growing demand for computing power as artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and digital services boom across Asia. The Lingshui data center is already managing cloud services ranging from restaurant recommendations to travel insights, underscoring its potential to integrate seamlessly with real-world consumer applications.
The move also aligns with China’s broader ambition to build next-generation digital ecosystems while reducing environmental impact, a crucial step as global AI adoption accelerates and power demands skyrocket.
A Greener Approach to the Internet
The idea of underwater data centers isn’t entirely new. Microsoft tested a similar concept in Scotland in 2018, but the project was experimental and never commercialized. China’s Hainan venture, however, signals a major shift , from concept to large-scale, client-serving operation.
Off the coast of Shanghai, another Chinese company, Highlander, is preparing to submerge a second pod later this month, this time powered by over 95% renewable energy from nearby offshore wind farms. The firm estimates that underwater cooling could slash energy use for temperature control by up to 90%, a massive saving in an era when data centers consume around 3% of the world’s total electricity.
The design also incorporates a protective glass-flake coating to guard against saltwater corrosion and uses an elevator link to the surface for maintenance access, eliminating the need for divers. Despite the challenges of laying cables underwater, the project could pave the way for more eco-efficient data storage worldwide.
Risks and the Road Ahead
While the benefits are clear, experts caution that the environmental impact of large-scale underwater data centers is still uncertain. Researchers are studying how heat expelled into the ocean might affect marine ecosystems, whether it could attract some species or displace others.
Still, China’s determination to innovate beneath the surface reflects a broader race to decarbonize digital infrastructure. As AI models grow more energy-intensive, the need for sustainable computing solutions becomes urgent. Subsea data centers might not replace traditional ones anytime soon, but they could soon complement them, balancing performance, energy efficiency, and ecological responsibility.
China’s Hainan launch is more than a technological feat; it’s a statement of intent. In a world increasingly defined by data, the country is quite literally diving into the future, turning the ocean into both a cooling system and a symbol of its digital ambitions.
