China trials world’s first energy-saving commercial underwater data centers

China is preparing to establish the world's first commercial underwater data centers, aiming to offer eco-friendly services and limit the huge energy costs of traditional data centers.

In the recent breakthrough, a Chinese company will submerge a capsule of servers in the sea off Shanghai in mid-October.

According to Yang Ye of maritime equipment firm Highlander, which is developing the Shanghai pod with state-owned builders, “Underwater operations have inherent advantages.”

After submerging the large yellow capsule on a wharf near Shanghai, it will cater to clients including China Telecom and state-owned AI computing company.

The project is a key part of the Chinese government to reduce the carbon footprint emitted by data facilities.

“Underwater facilities can save around 90 per cent of energy consumption for cooling,” said Yang, Highlander’s vice-president.

Earlier, Microsoft also tested a similar project off Scotland in 2018, but it was never commercialized.

However, the project is not bereft of challenges. Zhou Jun, an engineer on the Shanghai project, said, “The actual completion of the underwater data center involved greater construction challenges than initially expected.”

The environmental experts have warned of the risks posed by the underwater data centers, leading to disturbance of marine habitats.

Andrew Want, a marine ecologist at the University of Hull, said, “The heat emitted could in some cases attract certain species while driving away others. These are unknowns at this point – there’s not sufficient research being conducted yet.”