Eastern Data, Western Computing: New low-carbon data center begins operations in Hubei

A new data center has begun operations in central China. It's part of a wider project aimed at relieving energy constraints in its eastern region, while creating more development opportunities in the west. Designers say the country's environmental goals were at the heart of their blueprints. CGTN Xia Ruixue reports.

Located on the right bank of the Three Gorges Dam, the Dongyuemiao Data Center completed its first phase of construction in Yichang, central's China Hubei Province on Tuesday.

A data building, a communications command structure building, and a supporting transformer substation have now begun operations. Critics have pointed to the high energy consumption of such large data centers, especially at a time when China is trying to reduce its carbon footprint.

However, Dongyuemiao is part of a project which is not only designed to expand the scale of China's digital economy, but to also help achieve the country's ambitious green development goals.

ZENG CHAO Manager, Three Gorges Changdian Big Data "The data center will be low-carbon and high-efficiency in providing secure and efficient data storage. It will also help boost regional development and accelerate the implementation of the Yangtze River Economic Belt national strategy."

The 'Eastern Data and Western Computing' project is aimed at channeling more computing resources from its eastern regions to resource-rich western regions. As the region's largest data center when it's completed, Dongyuemiao will use green and low-carbon hydropower, provided by the massive Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River helping it to lower its energy consumption, reduce pollution, and boost the local economy.

Xia Ruixue, CGTN, Yichang, Hubei Province.