Hanwha Ocean, ABB Partner on Floating Data Centers
The South Korean shipbuilder and Swiss-Swedish technology firm will develop power and control systems for offshore data centers.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Data Centers
Hanwha Ocean and ABB signed a memorandum of understanding to develop power and control technologies for floating data centers. The agreement runs through May 2027 and covers power system design, reliability, and operational controls for servers housed on floating structures.
Why it matters
Rising demand for AI computing is adding pressure on land-based infrastructure, pushing operators to consider offshore alternatives. The partnership tests whether floating facilities can deliver stable power as AI workloads fluctuate.
The collaboration covers LNG-engine power generation standards and electrical system reliability and power quality assessments. Specific engineering specifications, output ratings, and power-quality benchmarks were not disclosed in the extraction.
The players
Hanwha Ocean
Hanwha Ocean is a South Korean heavy industries company that builds ships and offshore structures.
ABB
ABB is a Swiss-Swedish multinational technology corporation focused on electrification, automation, and robotics.
The details
Hanwha Ocean will lead basic design and configuration of the floating data center's power systems, including standards for LNG-engine power generation. ABB will assess electrical system reliability and power quality based on the shipbuilder's designs, drawing on its experience in electrification, automation, and data center power.
Timeline
September 2026: Hanwha Ocean unveiled its in-house floating data center concept at Gastech 2026.
May 2027: The memorandum of understanding's agreement term ends.
The Tech Race
The partnership extends Hanwha Ocean's Gastech 2026 floating data center concept into a joint power-system program with ABB. It positions offshore data centers as a response to land-based infrastructure strain from AI computing demand.
The project remains at the memorandum stage, so no immediate change to cloud services or device pricing is indicated. Its practical effect for users would depend on whether offshore facilities eventually add capacity and reduce pressure on land-based data centers.
The takeaway
Offshore data centers are being explored as one answer to the power demands of AI computing. Whether they become practical will depend on how well floating power systems perform over time.
Further reading
Explore more on Data Centers and how operators are rethinking infrastructure for AI workloads.
Source note: This article includes information reported by W.
