Karpowership, known for building floating power plants, is moving into waterborne data centres to meet the rising demand from artificial intelligence. The company's Kinetics unit plans to construct these floating hubs in shipyards, which could bypass the permitting delays often encountered with onshore construction.
Kinetics is collaborating with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines to develop a pilot project with a capacity of up to 73 MW, slated to be operational by 2027. The floating data centres will use seawater for cooling, offering a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional air-cooling systems. These centres can utilise power from Karpowership's LNG-powered ships, offshore wind, solar, or land grids. The floating design allows for relocation to areas with high demand or renewable energy sources.
Compared to the 3-5 years needed for traditional data centres, these floating centres aim for a conversion time of just 12 months. The data centres will connect to the internet via land or submarine cables.
