China Launches 24-Megawatt Underwater Data Center Powered by Wind and Ocean Cooling

• May 18, 2026

China has officially put into commercial operation a pioneering underwater data center with a capacity of 24 megawatts. Located 35 meters below sea level, this innovative facility utilizes passive ocean water cooling and wind energy to manage its nearly 2,000 servers, representing a significant step toward sustainable cloud infrastructure.

Innovative Subsea Data Center Combines Renewable Energy and Ocean Cooling

The new data center began operation in June 2025 and recently completed successful initial testing phases before entering full commercial use. The underwater site is designed to leverage constant ocean temperatures for efficient, passive cooling, dramatically reducing the energy consumption typically required for thermoregulation in conventional data centers.

To power the facility, the project integrates wind energy systems, underscoring a commitment to renewable energy sources. This approach addresses growing concerns over the environmental footprint of data centers, which are traditionally known for their high electricity demands.

With a construction budget amounting to approximately $226 million, the center hosts approximately 2,000 servers to support cloud services and data processing. Its placement beneath the ocean surface at 35 meters depth is a novel engineering solution designed to optimize both cooling efficiency and land use, freeing up terrestrial space for other applications.

The underwater data center reflects a broader industry trend toward exploring unconventional data center designs, especially those that enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. This development marks one of the first large-scale deployments blending marine engineering with renewable power generation to support critical digital infrastructure.

Going forward, the success of this project may influence future data center construction, particularly in regions seeking to minimize carbon emissions and leverage natural cooling resources. While details regarding pricing, operational costs, and specific performance benchmarks remain unspecified, the deployment demonstrates promising directions for sustainable data center technology worldwide.

China has inaugurated a 24MW underwater data center cooled by ocean water and powered by wind energy, marking a new approach to sustainable cloud infrastructure.