China unveils world’s first wind-powered underwater data center – Latest news from Azerbaijan

Report on China’s Wind-Powered Underwater Data Center and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

China has announced the completion of the world’s first underwater data center (UDC) powered entirely by offshore wind. Located in the Lin-gang Special Area of Shanghai, this project represents a significant milestone in developing sustainable digital infrastructure. With an investment of 1.6 billion yuan (approx. 226 million USD) and a power capacity of 24 megawatts, the facility pioneers the integration of renewable energy with data processing, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The UDC project serves as a model for low-carbon digital development, demonstrating significant progress in key areas of sustainability. Its design and operation are intrinsically linked to advancing the following SDGs:

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) & SDG 13 (Climate Action): The facility is designed to utilize over 95% green electricity sourced from abundant offshore wind resources. This direct use of renewable energy drastically reduces the carbon footprint associated with data processing and supports the global transition to clean energy systems to combat climate change.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The project is a breakthrough in resilient and sustainable infrastructure. It showcases an innovative integration of the digital, marine, and renewable energy sectors, establishing a new paradigm for the construction and operation of data centers globally.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) & SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By locating the data center underwater, the project achieves a reduction in land and water use of over 90% compared to traditional land-based facilities. This is critical for resource management in densely populated urban areas like Shanghai. Furthermore, it promotes resource efficiency through:
  1. A 22.8% reduction in power consumption.
  2. Leveraging seawater for natural cooling, which cuts cooling-related energy use from a typical 40-50% to below 10%.
  3. Achieving a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of no higher than 1.15, an industry-leading metric that surpasses China’s national green data center targets.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The project leverages the marine environment for passive cooling, demonstrating a symbiotic relationship between technology and the ocean. Future large-scale deployments will require continued innovation to ensure minimal impact on marine ecosystems, aligning technological advancement with marine conservation.

3.0 Strategic Context and Future Outlook

The completion of the UDC aligns with broader national and municipal strategies, reinforcing China’s commitment to technological innovation and sustainable development.

3.1 National and Regional Strategy

The project enhances China’s “East Data, West Computing” initiative, which aims to create a more balanced and efficient national computing network. It also supports Shanghai’s ambition to become a global hub for technological innovation, with plans to expand its intelligent computing cloud sector to over 200 billion yuan by 2027.

3.2 Future Expansion and Development

Building on this success, key stakeholders have signed an agreement for a significantly larger initiative. The future plans include:

1. Launching a new 500-megawatt offshore wind-powered UDC project.
2. Focusing on advancing core technologies to improve cost efficiency for large-scale deployment.
3. Continuing to leverage the East China Sea’s rich wind resources, which provide over 3,000 utilization hours annually, ensuring a stable supply of green energy.

While the technology is still in its early stages, this project establishes a clear and viable path toward a future of sustainable, high-efficiency computing infrastructure that actively supports global sustainability targets.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
     
     Explanation: The article explicitly states the project is a “wind-powered underwater data center” that combines this infrastructure with “offshore renewable energy.” It is designed to use “more than 95 percent green electricity” sourced from the East China Sea’s abundant wind resources.
   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
     
     Explanation: The facility is highlighted for its energy efficiency, “cutting power consumption by 22.8 percent” compared to traditional data centers. The design leverages seawater for cooling, which significantly lowers energy consumption related to cooling.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.
     
     Explanation: The article describes the project as a “major milestone in green computing infrastructure” and a “model for low-carbon digital infrastructure,” directly contributing to the development of sustainable and innovative infrastructure.
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies…
     
     Explanation: The underwater data center represents a significant technological upgrade over traditional land-based centers. It increases resource-use efficiency by reducing land, water, and power consumption and adopts clean technologies like offshore wind power and natural seawater cooling.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities…
     
     Explanation: Located in Shanghai, a major urban center, the project helps reduce the city’s environmental footprint by “reducing… land use by over 90 percent.” This addresses the critical issue of land scarcity in densely populated urban areas.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
     
     Explanation: The project exemplifies efficient resource use. The article specifies that it reduces “both water and land use by over 90 percent” and cuts “power consumption by 22.8 percent,” showcasing a more sustainable model of production and consumption for the digital industry.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
     
     Explanation: The project aligns with China’s national strategies, such as the “East Data, West Computing” initiative and the “2024 green data center policy.” This policy sets specific energy efficiency targets (PUE below 1.25), demonstrating the integration of climate-friendly measures into national industrial planning.

6. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems…
     
     Explanation: The project is located underwater and “leverages seawater for natural cooling.” This direct interaction with the marine environment makes its sustainable management crucial. The use of offshore wind power also connects energy generation to the marine ecosystem.

7. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…
     
     Explanation: The article highlights a significant partnership to advance this technology. It mentions that “Shanghai Hicloud Technology, Shenergy Group, China Telecom’s Shanghai branch, INESA, and the Third Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. of China Communications Construction Company signed an agreement” for a larger project, exemplifying a multi-stakeholder collaboration.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

   • Share of renewable energy: The data center is designed to use “more than 95 percent green electricity.”
   • Energy efficiency improvement: The facility achieves a “power consumption” reduction of “22.8 percent.”
   • Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE): The project has a PUE of “no higher than 1.15,” which is an industry-standard metric for data center energy efficiency. The article also references the national policy target of a PUE “below 1.25.”

2. Indicators for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) & SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

   • Resource efficiency in infrastructure: The project reduces “water and land use by over 90 percent.”
   • Investment in sustainable infrastructure: The initial project received an “investment of 1.6 billion yuan (about 226 million U.S. dollars).”

3. Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action)

   • National policy implementation: The article mentions “China’s 2024 green data center policy” and the “East Data, West Computing” initiative as frameworks guiding such projects.

4. Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships: The signing of an agreement between five distinct corporate entities (“Shanghai Hicloud Technology, Shenergy Group, China Telecom’s Shanghai branch, INESA, and the Third Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd.”) to launch a new, larger project.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.az