HiCloud Shanghai UDC | High-Efficiency Underwater AI & Cloud Infrastructure Platform

Status: Operational (Phase 1 Complete)   |   Location: 35m Below Sea Level, off the coast of Lin-gang

Project Overview

The HiCloud Shanghai Underwater Data Center (UDC) represents one of the most radical departures from traditional data center architecture in history. Officially entering its commercial expansion phase in January 2026, this $226 million project utilizes the depths of the East China Sea to house hyperscale computing power. By submerging massive 1,300-tonne watertight data cabins 35 meters below the surface, HiCloud has effectively turned the ocean into a giant, natural heat sink, eliminating the need for energy-intensive air conditioning and freshwater cooling.

The technical brilliance of the Shanghai UDC lies in its energy efficiency. While land-based data centers struggle to meet China's national PUE target of 1.25, the HiCloud facility has achieved a PUE of 1.15. This is accomplished by using the constant ambient temperature of the seabed to maintain server health, reducing cooling-related energy consumption by over 80%. Furthermore, the project is a pioneer in the "Green Power" movement, drawing over 95% of its electricity directly from the massive offshore wind farms located in the Lin-gang Special Area.

Each submerged cabin is designed to be maintenance-free for years, housing 24 server racks that can hold up to 500 servers each. The cabins are treated with advanced anti-corrosion materials to withstand the saline environment. Strategically, this project also serves as a "Marine 5G Hub," with China Telecom leveraging the subsea infrastructure to enhance high-speed connectivity for the maritime and shipping industries in one of the world's busiest ports.

As of early 2026, HiCloud has signed a landmark agreement with a consortium including Shenergy Group and China Telecom to scale this technology from the current 24 MW pilot to a massive 500 MW subsea deployment. This expansion aligns with China's "East Data West Computing" strategy but adds a "Coastal Data Marine Computing" dimension, proving that the future of the cloud may very well lie beneath the waves.

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