Full Breakdown
China's First High-Altitude Computing Center Opens at Lianghekou Hydropower Plant
12/19/2025, 11:57:00 AM
Overview of the High-Altitude Computing Center
The Lianghekou hydropower plant in Southwest China's Sichuan Province has officially launched China's first high-altitude cave-style computing cabin intelligent computing center. This facility, which commenced operations recently, represents a significant investment of 350 million yuan (approximately $49.71 million) and features six computing cabins equipped with 2,000 domestically produced computing chips. The center is capable of performing up to 60 exaflops, or 60 billion billion floating-point operations per second.
Strategic Location and Design
Situated within the construction tunnel of the Lianghekou hydropower plant, the computing center benefits from a unique geological structure designed to withstand seismic activity of up to 8 degrees. This strategic location not only enhances the safety of the computing equipment against natural disasters such as earthquakes and heavy rainfall but also utilizes the tunnel's natural constant temperature to maintain an energy-efficient environment. The facility boasts a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) value below 1.2, achieving a leading standard in energy efficiency within China.
Data Security and Operational Efficiency
The computing center's design incorporates high-level security configurations from the hydropower station, ensuring that it meets stringent data security requirements. This integration allows the facility to operate reliably while safeguarding sensitive data, a crucial aspect in today's digital landscape.
Background of the Lianghekou Hydropower Plant
The Lianghekou hydropower plant, located on the Yalong River in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, is notable for being the highest hydropower plant of its kind in China, with a planned total installed capacity of 3 million kW. The plant officially became fully operational on March 18, 2022, following the activation of its last 500,000-kW power generation unit.
Implications for Future Computing Initiatives
The establishment of this high-altitude computing center is expected to bolster China's capabilities in advanced computing and data processing. By leveraging the unique advantages of its location and infrastructure, the center may pave the way for future projects that require robust computing power in challenging environments.
Official Statements & Responses
According to CCTV News, the project is designed to provide a safe and reliable operating environment for computing equipment, emphasizing its resilience against natural disasters. The report highlights the center's potential to set a benchmark for energy efficiency and data security in computing facilities across the country.
Criticism & Opposition
While the project has been met with enthusiasm for its technological advancements, some critics may raise concerns regarding the environmental impact of large-scale hydropower projects. However, specific dissenting viewpoints were not detailed in the sources.
Verbatim Quotes
“By leveraging the natural stability of the hydropower station's cave geological structure, the facility can effectively resist natural disasters such as earthquakes and heavy rainfall, providing a safe and reliable operating environment for computing equipment, the report said.” — CCTV News
This initiative marks a significant step in China's pursuit of advanced computing capabilities, aligning with broader national goals in technology and infrastructure development.
