Northern Metropolis Data Hub to Begin Operations Mid-2027, Ahead of Schedule
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
CLP Power revealed on Wednesday that the Sandy Ridge supercomputing cluster in the Northern Metropolis will begin phased operations by mid-2027, significantly ahead of its original 2029 schedule . The electricity supplier stated it has adequate capacity to meet energy requirements for three to four comparable data centre facilities over the coming decade . Projections indicate Hong Kong's computing power will surge to 180,000 petaflops by 2032, a dramatic expansion representing 36 times present capacity .
Key Points
- Sandy Ridge data centre cluster broke ground in March 2026 and will now commence phased operations by mid-2027, earlier than the planned 2029 start
- CLP Power serves Kowloon, the New Territories, Lantau, and outlying islands, with sufficient capacity for multiple large-scale computing facilities
- By 2032, Hong Kong's computing power is projected to reach 180,000 petaflops, equivalent to 180,000 quadrillion calculations per second
- Joseph Law Ka-chun, CLP Power managing director, emphasized that AI development depends on computing power as its engine with electricity as critical kinetic energy
- Zhou Chaonan, chairwoman of Range Intelligent Computing Technology Group, highlighted Hong Kong's strategic role as a bridge connecting mainland China with international markets
Why It Matters
The accelerated timeline for Sandy Ridge signals Hong Kong's commitment to becoming a regional AI and technology powerhouse, directly supporting national innovation goals while leveraging the city's unique position as a gateway between the mainland and global markets . The projected 36-fold increase in computing capacity by 2032 could attract significant technology investment and talent, positioning Hong Kong to compete with established tech hubs across Asia-Pacific .
The accelerated timeline for Sandy Ridge signals Hong Kong's commitment to becoming a regional AI and technology powerhouse, directly supporting national innovation goals while leveraging the city's unique position as a gateway between the mainland and global markets . The projected 36-fold increase in computing capacity by 2032 could attract significant technology investment and talent, positioning Hong Kong to compete with established tech hubs across Asia-Pacific .