The company HiCloud adds a new module to its infrastructure in Hainan, capable of processing 7,000 AI queries per second
While the West seems to have cooled its enthusiasm for underwater data centers, China has decided to firmly invest in this innovative infrastructure. The tech company HiCloud, based in Shenzhen, has expanded its facility in the coastal city of Lingshui on Hainan Island with a new underwater module that consolidates its business strategy in this type of solutions. Unlike initiatives like Microsoft’s Natick Project, which remained experimental and has not continued, China aims to bring this technology to market with a more ambitious approach.
A high-performance submerged module
The new underwater module from HiCloud features advanced technical characteristics:
- Size: 18 meters long.
- Operational depth: Can submerge up to 40 meters.
- Capacity: Houses 400 high-performance servers.
- Connectivity: Interconnected to a ground station via fiber optic cables.
- Performance: Capable of processing up to 7,000 queries per second from the Chinese AI model DeepSeek.
- Cooling: Uses seawater as a natural cooling medium, significantly reducing energy consumption and improving PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).
- Sustainability: Low environmental impact, reduction of energy and land space consumption, and lower maintenance needs.
- Resilience: The module is designed to withstand earthquakes, typhoons, and fires.
According to the state broadcaster CCTV, the processing power of the new underwater cluster is equivalent to the simultaneous operation of 30,000 high-end computers, marking a strategic advance for applications such as AI model training, video game development, and marine scientific studies.
An optimized lifecycle under the sea
The lifespan of these underwater data centers is estimated to be between 5 to 10 years. Their deployment follows a process divided into several stages:
- Design and construction: Made with materials resistant to pressure and marine corrosion.
- Submersion: The module is securely anchored to the seabed at the desired depth.
- Connection: Connected via submarine cables to a land station that supplies power and data.
- Operation and maintenance: The system operates in an isolated environment that is naturally cooled, with remote monitoring capabilities and interventions using robotic tools.
- Withdrawal or recycling: At the end of its lifespan, the module is retrieved, refurbished, or recycled.
A model for the future?
The installation of this new module comes amid increasing technological competition between China and the United States, especially following the launch of the AI model DeepSeek, developed at a significantly lower cost than other international models. This infrastructure will allow for rapid scaling of AI services without incurring the high cooling and electricity costs associated with traditional data centers.
In contrast, initiatives like Microsoft’s Natick Project—launched a few years ago to explore the feasibility of underwater data centers—have not continued development or evolved into a commercially viable solution in the West.
Is global expansion feasible?
The big question that remains is whether underwater data centers will establish themselves as a real alternative to conventional infrastructures. If land-based data centers continue to evolve in energy efficiency and sustainability, will these ambitious underwater deployments still make sense?
The truth is that China has decided to respond with action rather than hypotheses. And in a world increasingly demanding computational power for AI, sustainability, and operational efficiency, perhaps the key lies beneath the sea.
Source: People’s Daily China