China Launches World's First Wind-Powered Underwater Data Center

The Government of China has launched the world's first commercial wind-powered underwater data center in the Lingang Special Area off the coast of Shanghai. Submerged 10 meters below the surface, the facility began full commercial operations in May 2026 following an initial launch in June 2025.

Developed as a joint venture between HiCloud Technology and the state-owned China Communications Construction Company, the 24-megawatt facility cost approximately 1.6 billion yuan. The center utilizes a copper-pipe heat exchange system to circulate natural seawater for cooling and is powered by a nearby offshore wind farm. These design choices allow the facility to use more than 95 percent green electricity, reduce energy consumption by 22.8 percent, and eliminate the need for freshwater and land.

China Telecom has already installed GPU clusters in the facility to support national artificial intelligence computing demands. The project aligns with a broader national AI action plan to increase clean energy supplies for infrastructure by 2030 and provides low-latency computing power for Shanghai's autonomous vehicle and biotech sectors. The facility targets a power-usage effectiveness of no more than 1.15 to maintain technological leadership and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.