Keeping AI Running Steadily Through Power Swings... Hanwha Ocean Advances Offshore Data Center Technology

Jointly Develop Power and Control Technologies with ABB

Upgrade LNG Power Generation and Integrated Control Systems

Could artificial intelligence (AI) data centers move out to sea?

Hanwha Ocean has begun developing core technologies for floating data centers installed offshore. The key is technology that can ensure stable operation of AI servers, whose power demand can change rapidly.

Hanwha Ocean (CEO Kim Hee-cheol) said on Thursday, November 5, that it had signed a business agreement with global electrification and automation company ABB to cooperate on power and control system technologies for floating data centers (FDCs).

A floating data center is a facility equipped with servers, power systems and cooling equipment on an offshore structure. As the growth of the AI industry drives up demand for data processing, floating data centers are drawing attention as an alternative that could address the challenges of securing land and power for onshore data centers.

The FDC model developed by Hanwha Ocean.

Officials from both companies, including Hanwha Ocean Executive Vice President Hur Yoon, head of the Product Strategy and Technology Institute (fourth from left), and ABB Vice President Ishikawa Masayasu, head of Asia-Pacific Distribution Solutions (fifth from left), pose for a commemorative photo after signing an MOU.

Hanwha Ocean first unveiled a floating data center model it developed in-house at Gastech 2026. The agreement aims to enhance the technology by combining the company’s expertise in designing and building offshore facilities with ABB’s data center power solutions.

The two companies will jointly review technologies for stable power supply and efficient operations through May 2027. Hanwha Ocean will handle the basic design and power system configuration. It will establish design standards for LNG engine-based power generation facilities and review equipment layouts suited to offshore conditions.

ABB will analyze the reliability and quality of the power system and review technologies to improve operational efficiency.

A key challenge is developing technology to respond to changes in power demand. Power consumption at AI data centers can vary sharply depending on computing workloads. The two companies plan to develop technologies to adjust LNG engine output accordingly and to integrate and control power generation facilities and power systems.

Through this collaboration, Hanwha Ocean aims to expand its offshore plant business capabilities into the digital infrastructure sector.

Heo Yun, executive vice president and head of Hanwha Ocean’s Product Strategy and Technology Institute, said, “As the AI industry grows, stable power supply and efficient operating technologies for data centers are becoming increasingly important.” He added, “We will work with ABB to enhance the technological maturity of floating data centers suited to offshore conditions.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.