Climate

Concerns raised as data centres go underwater in China

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 15/10/2026, 12:28:23 UTC.

Briefings

China's smart economy is driving rapid growth in AI data centers, with the number of facilities reaching 250 in 2024. A pioneering underwater data center off Shanghai's Lingang coast, powered by 95% green electricity and cooled by seawater, represents a new sustainable approach. While experts note potential biological impacts from heat discharge, the facility is currently operating with zero failures. The project involves joint efforts between Shanghai HiCloud and state-owned enterprises, with plans to expand to 100 underwater capsules in Hainan by 2026.

Key points

• China's AI data center count surged to 250 in 2024, a significant increase from 60 in 2023, driven by the country's rapid AI economy growth.
• The Shanghai Lingang facility is the first operational underwater data center, utilizing 95% green electricity and seawater cooling to avoid freshwater consumption.

Context and limitations

Specific heat discharge rates for the Lingang facility are not publicly disclosed, though the project document estimates a 5C increase. Long-term ecological impacts on marine organisms remain uncertain due to limited monitoring data and the small scale of the heat discharge compared to coastal nuclear plants.

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