China Advances AI Capabilities with Revolutionary Underwater Data Center

Beijing, April 2, 2025 – Following the global success of its DeepSeek AI chatbot, China has taken another major leap in artificial intelligence by deploying an advanced underwater data center off the coast of Hainan province. This innovative facility is not only a milestone in AI-driven data processing but also a significant breakthrough in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Revolutionizing AI with DeepSeek Technology
At the heart of this project lies DeepSeek technology, which powers one of China’s most advanced AI assistants. This intelligent system is capable of managing up to 7,000 conversations per second, enabling real-time interactions for businesses and research institutions. The latest addition to this technological marvel is an 18-meter-long submerged module, housing over 400 high-end servers. This module seamlessly integrates with onshore terminals, providing uninterrupted and high-speed data processing capabilities.
According to reports from China Daily, the underwater data center boasts the computational power of nearly 30,000 high-performance PCs. It can execute calculations that would traditionally take a year in just a single second, a remarkable achievement that underscores China’s dominance in high-performance computing.
Eco-Friendly Innovation: Sustainable Data Processing
What sets this facility apart is its pioneering approach to sustainability. By housing servers underwater, the facility leverages natural seawater circulation for cooling, significantly reducing energy consumption. Unlike traditional data centers, which require massive amounts of electricity for cooling, this submerged infrastructure achieves a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.1, compared to the conventional 1.4 or higher.
Additionally, the system is powered by green energy sources, including offshore wind farms, reinforcing China’s commitment to carbon neutrality. Developed by Beijing Highlander Digital Technology Co., the project aligns with national sustainability goals while offering a scalable solution for future AI and data-intensive applications.
Industry Applications and Global Implications
The underwater data center has already attracted interest from major industries, including AI model training, industrial simulations, game development, and marine research. With contracts signed with 10 companies, the facility has been running smoothly since its launch, providing robust and high-speed computing services.
The cluster’s immense processing power is another remarkable feature. It can handle over 4 million high-definition images within 30 seconds—equivalent to the workload of 60,000 traditional computers. This level of performance enables groundbreaking advancements in AI research, large-scale simulations, and real-time analytics for industries reliant on big data.
Strategic Advantages of the Underwater Data Center
The modular structure of the data center offers unparalleled scalability, allowing deployment within just 90 days after installation and testing. Moreover, the underwater setup minimizes land use, reduces operational risks, and enhances reliability, making it a strategic asset for industries located in coastal regions, where a significant share of global economic activity occurs.
Hainan Power Grid Co. has provided a dedicated power solution to support the data center’s operations, with a total installed electricity capacity of 24,000 kilovolt-amperes across three project phases. This ensures uninterrupted power supply, further reinforcing the facility’s reliability and efficiency.
The Future of AI and Underwater Computing
China’s underwater data center marks a transformative step in AI infrastructure, demonstrating how deep-sea technology can revolutionize data processing while addressing critical environmental challenges. As AI applications continue to expand, such innovative solutions may serve as blueprints for future global data centers, reducing carbon footprints and optimizing energy use.
With its combination of cutting-edge computing power, sustainable energy solutions, and modular deployment capabilities, China’s latest AI push into the deep seas is set to redefine the future of data processing on a global scale.