Hanwha Ocean and ABB sign floating data center power pact

Hanwha Ocean signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with ABB to develop power and control systems for floating data centers, the companies said. Data Center Dynamics reported the agreement on Nov. 5.

Hanwha leads the floating data center's basic design and power system configuration and sets design standards for generation equipment expected to be based on LNG engines. The work runs through May, according to the companies, covering power system design reviews and operating and control technologies. ABB analyzes the electrical system's reliability and power quality and runs technical reviews to improve operating efficiency.

The agreement remains a concept-stage design exercise: a non-binding MoU carries no obligation to build, and no customer contract or capital commitment was disclosed. The underwriting question is whether offshore power and cooling can clear marine permitting and fuel logistics faster than onshore interconnection queues.

Hanwha showcased a self-developed 60MW-class floating data center earlier this year, a concept that generates power offshore and uses seawater for cooling. Heo Yoon, executive vice president and head of Hanwha Ocean's Product Strategy and Technology Institute, said AI industry growth is making stable power supply and efficient operation more important, and that the ABB partnership is meant to raise the technical maturity of marine floating data center solutions.

Keppel has started work on a 25MW floating facility in Singapore due online in 2028, and Panthalassa is pursuing wave-powered floating data centers.

Offshore siting trades grid interconnection risk for marine engineering, fuel logistics and maintenance risk. An LNG-based generation design ties operating cost to gas supply and to emissions treatment at sea, both of which would need to clear permitting before a floating facility could be financed on contracted offtake.

The next visible checkpoint is the May conclusion of the joint technical work.