A new underwater data center is set to launch near Shanghai in mid-October, marking one of the first commercial deployments of this technology globally.

The facility, developed by maritime equipment firm Highlander with state-owned construction partners, will serve clients including China Telecom and a state-run AI computing firm.

Undersea servers use ocean currents for cooling, which may reduce energy needs compared to traditional land-based centers, though experts caution that large-scale adoption faces technical and environmental challenges.

Microsoft previously tested similar technology off Scotland’s coast in 2018, but did not commercialize the approach.

Highlander claims the Shanghai project will draw nearly all its power from nearby offshore wind farms, with more than 95% of its energy use coming from renewable sources, and will use protective coatings to guard servers against saltwater corrosion.

Researchers say the impact of underwater data centers on marine ecosystems remains uncertain, especially regarding heat emissions.

Chinese government subsidies have supported Highlander’s projects, including an earlier site in Hainan province.

🔗 Source: Agence France-Presse