China's First Underwater Data Centre to Launch in October 2023
A Chinese company is set to launch an underwater data centre off Shanghai in mid-October 2023. This innovative project, part of the government's drive to reduce data centres' carbon footprint, aims to save around 90% of energy consumption for cooling by utilising ocean currents for server cooling.
The data centre, housed in a steel capsule coated with glass flakes for protection, will serve clients such as China Telecom and a state-owned AI computing company. It will draw nearly all its power from nearby offshore wind farms, with over 95% of energy used coming from renewable sources. The structure will be connected to an above-water segment via an elevator for maintenance access.
However, the project faces challenges. Submarine data centres can be vulnerable to sound wave attacks conducted through water. Additionally, laying internet connections between offshore data centres and the mainland is more complex than with traditional land servers. Despite these hurdles, the company behind the project, though unnamed in available search results, is committed to studying these issues, particularly the thermal pollution problem of megawatt-scale underwater centres.
The upcoming underwater data centre off Shanghai promises significant energy savings and reduced carbon footprint. Despite potential security and connectivity challenges, the project marks a step forward in exploring the feasibility of underwater data centres as a sustainable solution for the future.
