ABS has issued approval in principle (AIP) to two floating data center concepts.

One applies to Hanwha Ocean’s design of a 60-MW offshore center.

The other is for HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering’s 100 MW-class barge-mounted power plant, a floating power-generation concept for supporting data centers and other facilities with large-scale electricity requirements.

According to ABS, growing demand for power to service AI and data centers is driving interest in offshore power infrastructure that can be deployed faster and with fewer location challenges, compared with land-based sites.

The barge-mounted power plant would use medium-speed HiMSEN gas engines to generate electricity offshore, with the power transmitted to shore-based users.

ABS conducted design reviews of the basic concept, an electrical single-line diagram and stability assessment, confirming its technical feasibility and regulatory compliance.

“Building on this ABS approval in principle, we will further strengthen our technological competitiveness in the floating power plant sector and lead the future power-infrastructure market through our shipbuilding and offshore engineering capabilities,” said Dong-Jin Lee,evp of HD KSOE Initial Design Office.

Over the past year, ABS has issued approvals for conceptual floating data centers ranging in capacity from 50-200 MW.

Last year, it published a study that assessed the use of nuclear power for floating data center.