Technology

China deploys wind-powered underwater data center off Shanghai coast — $226 million project could top 24 megawatts, harnessing the cooling power of the sea

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Oct 29, 2025

TL;DR

AI Generated

China has launched a groundbreaking wind-powered underwater data center off the coast of Shanghai, claiming it to be the world's first of its kind. The $226 million project, located 35 meters below the surface, aims to be an energy-efficient and land-sparing cloud infrastructure. With a planned capacity of 24 megawatts, the facility utilizes seawater for cooling, achieving a power usage effectiveness below 1.15. While similar to Microsoft's Project Natick, which proved submerged data centers were more reliable, HiCloud faces challenges in serviceability and scalability. The project aims for a near-zero footprint data center powered by offshore wind, but concerns remain about maintenance and hardware upgrades in the underwater environment.

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Six AI data centers proposed for a small town of 7,000, equal to 51 Walmart Supercenters in 17 square mile area — four out of the seven town council members have resigned from their positions as town fights back

Developers have proposed building six AI data centers in Archbald, Pennsylvania, a small town with a population of 7,000. These data centers would cover 14% of the town's 17-square-mile area and are equivalent in size to 51 Walmart Supercenters. The community is pushing back due to concerns about the impact on local utilities, noise, and light pollution. The fight has led to resignations from town council members and delays in the projects, with President Donald Trump getting involved in urging hyperscalers to address community concerns.

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3 days ago

New Jersey datacenter expansion got $77m in tax breaks to create exactly one permanent job — JPMorgan's site already scored $35m and currently employs just 25 workers

A JPMorgan datacenter expansion in New Jersey received $77 million in tax breaks to create just one permanent job, marking a high subsidy-to-jobs ratio. The expansion, which is part of a $1 billion investment, currently employs only 25 workers despite the substantial tax incentives. The Industrial Development Agency (IDA) believes the deal will benefit the local economy, projecting a $100 million infusion. While the IDA acknowledges the lack of permanent jobs, they argue that the overall economic impact justifies the subsidy. The situation highlights the need for closer scrutiny of datacenter subsidies and their true economic impact.

Tom's Hardware•

1 week ago

Is carbon removal in trouble?

Microsoft, a major player in the carbon removal market, has reportedly paused its carbon removal purchases, causing concern in the industry. Carbon removal technologies aim to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for permanent storage. Microsoft, which aims to become carbon-negative by 2030, has been a significant buyer of carbon removal contracts. The company's decision to pause purchases may impact the industry's growth and reliance on corporate support. Industry experts suggest that government mandates and policies are needed to ensure the scalability of carbon removal efforts.

MIT Technology Review•

2 weeks ago

MIT Technology Review

The quest to measure our relationship with nature

The United Nations is working on a Nature Relationship Index (NRI) to measure how well countries interact with the natural world. The NRI aims to shift the narrative from humans being destroyers of nature to fostering a green, abundant world. The index will assess three key questions: whether nature is thriving and accessible, if it is being used with care, and if it is safeguarded. The NRI will debut alongside the 2026 Human Development Report, encouraging countries to compete and improve their scores. The goal is to engage people's hopes and dreams for a better relationship with nature.