The main reason AliCloud places its servers at the bottom of Qiandao Lake is to reduce the heat generated by server operation by utilizing the natural cooling properties of the lake to minimize damage to equipment. Located in Qingxi New City, Chun'an County, Zhejiang Province, the innovative data center covers an area of about 30,000 square meters and is large enough to accommodate 10,000 servers, making it one of the largest data centers in Zhejiang Province. It was opened to meet Ali's demand for cloud computing and big data services, especially on high-traffic days such as "Double 11," when data computing tasks can be handled efficiently.
Unlike traditional data centers, AliCloud's Qiandao Lake Data Center is designed to be environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The center makes full use of the low-temperature lake water in the Qiandao Lake area, which averages 17 degrees Celsius annually, and introduces the lake water into the data center through a closed pipe to help cool down the servers, thus greatly saving about 80 percent of the cooling energy. Excess treated lake water is also recycled, flowing through the cityscape and eventually returning to the lake, creating an eco-friendly mode of operation.
In addition, the data center also extensively uses photovoltaic solar technology to further reduce operating costs, reflecting Aliyun's emphasis on green energy. This innovative siting and design strategy not only improves efficiency, but also demonstrates Aliyun's determination in promoting infrastructure development and its commitment to sustainable development.
Overall, AliCloud's placement of its servers at the bottom of Qiandao Lake is motivated by environmental and energy efficiency concerns, while also demonstrating its technical prowess in cloud computing and its pursuit of green technology.