Highlander, a Chinese company that constructs commercial underwater data centers has launched its facility off Hainan Island, China and is preparing the facility for live loads and aims to sell similar submerged facilities for export to global customers.

Set to embark on constructing a net-zero data center powered by offshore wind power in Shanghai and Hainan later in 2023, Highlander has already secured UDC orders from key companies like China Telecom and Hong Kong-based AI software firm SenseTime.

UDCs present themselves as an energy-efficient and space-saving alternative to traditional land-based facilities. These underwater data centers can be situated near population centers without the requirement for expensive land. They possess the advantage of being cooled by seawater and potentially powered by wave energy, particularly beneficial in tropical regions where access to other renewable energy sources may be limited.

Highlander has been designated a “little giant,” recognized for its rapid growth and innovation, by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The company focuses on addressing the challenges of high-temperature conditions by situating its first UDC project in Hainan, a Chinese tropical island.

Servers within sealed watertight units offer a controlled environment free of oxygen and dust, maintaining constant humidity and pressure. Highlander has engineered the UDC systems for shallow water deployment, avoiding the use of deepwater equipment, which might exceed the UDC requirements and significantly inflate costs.

By redesigning for shallow water, Highlander has reduced the costs of UDCs by approximately 80%. The company has developed a complete production chain to provide innovative and economical shallow-water facilities for UDCs, catering to global consumers’ needs for high-end yet cost-effective UDC solutions.

Moreover, UDCs can leverage multiple sources of renewable energy, including offshore wind, onshore photovoltaic power, and ocean energy like waves, tides, and temperature differentials. Highlander envisions UDCs as integral to a marine industry cluster, offering IT support for marine farming and tourism.

Although UDCs align with eco-friendly advancements, Highlander’s partnerships, such as providing computing support to offshore oil and gas drilling, might raise concerns about the environmental impact, potentially compromising its sustainability claims.