China Launches The World’s First Underwater Commercial Data Centre

China has officially launched the world’s first commercial underwater data centre, in an effort to lower the amount of energy needed to keep it cool.

The tech, which was developed by Highlander Digital Technology and Hailanyun (HiCloud), has been deployed off the coast of Hainan, with a second one currently being built in Shanghai.

So how does it work? Well, the data centres are submerged under water, which allow them to use the ocean’s natural cooling properties to prevent them from over-heating. As this process typically involves a lot of energy, which can be expensive and carbon-intensive, this new innovation is set to make AI a lot more green.

The result? Cutting cooling energy by up to 90%, powered almost entirely by renewable energy.

For AI naysayers who criticise its use of energy, this could be a huge turning point for AI sustainability.

Using The Ocean’s Cooling Properties To Reduce Energy Consumption

One of the biggest criticisms about the rise of AI is how much energy it consumes, and cooling is a big part of this. In fact, cooling alone normally accounts for around 40% of energy consumption, making it a huge problem to tackle.

By moving their data centres under water, China is using sea water currents to help regulate temperatures naturally. Highlander, one of the companies behind the tech, said that this could cut cooling-related energy use by up to 90%. To make it even more green, the Shanghai site will draw the energy it uses from a nearby windfarm, making it one of the most sustainable data centres ever built.

Trials for the centre off Hainan Island have also been successful, saving around 122 million kWh of electricity and over 100,000 tonnes of water each year. (TechRadar)

China’s Submerged Servers

The underwater facility in Lingshui County, Hainan, known for its beautiful mountain and tropical beaches, contains a 1,300 tonne steel capsule. Inside, the capsule contains hundreds of servers that process data for a range of services, from travel platforms to AI.

In Shanghai, the capsule is set to contain around 198 server racks, which could host nearly 800 AI servers. According to Hailanyun, this setup could deliver enough computing power to train an AI model equivalent to GPT-3.5 in just one day.

Whilst the centre is small compared with a land-based one, it certainly has potential.

But how do they keep the contents dry and safe from the surrounding salt water? Well, each capsule has a protective coating. They also have elevators that connect to a maintenance pod above the water.

Learning From Microsoft’s Project Natick

Whilst the idea might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, it was first attempted by Microsoft with Project Natick. Through this, they deployed underwater server pods off the coast of Scotland between 2018 and 2020.

Whilst it was initially successful, with underwater systems having a much lower failure rate than those on land, it was eventually shelved due to maintenance and accessibility issues.

China’s approach is the next version of this, and they aim to make it commercially operational in less than 3 years.

Ocean: Friend or Foe?

Whilst the project certainly looks like it could be a huge success, working with tech under water is not without its risks.

Marine scientists have warned about thermal pollution, where the release of warm water might negatively affect local ecosystems. However, research has shown that the temperature increase is negligible.

But one of the biggest challenges is upkeep. For engineers, accessing and maintaining the submerged data centres is no easy feat, and making sure they constantly have access to power and are not corroding is a big challenge in itself.

But one thing is for sure, if the data centres can prove that they are reliable and secure, this could be a great step towards making AI much greener.

Data Beneath The Sea

Whilst still in their development stages, China’s underwater data centres could spark a new era in green computing. Instead of just powering these centres with renewable energy, they will be able to use the oceans to keep them cool.

Whilst the programme is still in its early stages, it’s certainly a step in the right direction. Whether they will prove to be as practical as they are useful remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure, the future of data may lie under the sea.