Shanghai Lin-gang Underwater Data Center Begins Operation Off Coast of China

The Shanghai Lin-gang Underwater Data Center has officially begun operation off the east coast of Nanhuizui in Shanghai, according to a report from China.org.cn published via PR Newswire. The facility is described as the first underwater data center in the world powered directly by offshore wind energy.

The center operates within a 32 meter tall steel cylinder located in the same sea area as an offshore wind farm. Electricity is supplied directly via a dedicated cable, enabling a green power supply rate exceeding 95 percent while reducing transmission losses and operational costs.

Instead of conventional air conditioning systems, the data center uses seawater with an average annual temperature of 15 degrees Celsius for cooling. This design cuts electricity and freshwater consumption significantly. The facility has achieved a power usage effectiveness rating below 1.15, reducing carbon emissions by about 12,000 tons per year.

The project represents China's effort to align computing infrastructure with renewable energy sources. It follows the country's earlier initiatives such as the 2021 East Data, West Computing program, which redirects data processing to regions with abundant renewable resources.