Mocean Energy Reveals Renewable-Powered Offshore Data Centre Concept

Scottish offshore power developer Mocean Energy has unveiled Blue Core, a concept for an offshore data centre with its own renewable power generation and seawater cooling. Built on its tested Blue Star module, each unit combines wave energy, solar panels and battery storage to power AI server racks without a grid connection. The company is raising 5 million pounds to fund development, targeting first commercial deployments from 2030 and an ambitious goal of 6 GW of offshore-powered data centres installed by 2035.

 

The Blue Core Concept

 

Mocean Energy has entered the AI infrastructure market with a novel design. The concept is an offshore data centre with its own renewable power generation. It also incorporates a seawater cooling system for onboard equipment. Blue Core is designed to remove the power and water constraints affecting onshore data centres. It achieves this by transferring the technology out to sea.

The design builds directly on the company's existing proven technology. Blue Core expands the tested Blue Star module into a complete data centre platform. The two systems share the same core technology of power conversion, mooring and controls. This shared foundation allows the company to leverage years of prior development. It positions Blue Core as an extension of established capability rather than an entirely new build.

 

Power and Cooling Design

 

Each unit is designed to be self-sufficient in energy. Blue Core combines wave energy, solar panels and battery storage in a single platform. This combination powers the onboard AI server racks directly. It also supports connection to low-Earth orbit satellite communications. Each unit would generate between 500 kilowatts and 1 megawatt without any grid connection.

Cooling represents a particular advantage of the offshore approach. Cooling typically consumes between 15 and 35 percent of an onshore data centre's energy budget. At sea, this is expected to account for around 5 percent instead. The design uses a closed-loop system that exchanges heat with the ocean. This avoids drawing on a community's potential drinking water supplies.

 

Modular Manufacturing Approach

 

The concept is built around a modular, scalable design philosophy. Blue Core is built like an assembly line rather than a megaproject. Units are manufactured and deployed one at a time as needed. Combinations of individual units could form larger farms of data centres. This means a single unit and a thousand-unit farm share the same building block.

This modularity offers practical operational benefits. Any individual unit can be removed for maintenance or upgrade. This can occur without disrupting the operation of the rest of the farm. The approach reduces the risk associated with large single-site developments. It also allows capacity to be added incrementally in line with demand.

 

Read more: OPT Acquires Subsea Technology Assets From Columbia Power Technologies

 

Testing and Development Progress

 

The concept rests on a foundation of extensive real-world testing. The Blue Star module has completed 18 months of full-scale testing. This took place in some of the harshest sea conditions anywhere in the world. The testing involved international offshore energy companies and technology developers. Several energy majors were among the participants in these trials.

Company leadership emphasised the value of this proven track record. The managing director said years had been spent proving the technology works in harsh conditions. Blue Core takes that same proven system and applies it to a larger problem. Once a unit is built, its power is described as free for the life of the asset. This reflects the absence of ongoing fuel or grid costs.

 

Funding and Deployment Timeline

 

The company is raising capital to advance its development plans. Mocean has already raised 2.8 million pounds of non-dilutive funding. It is now seeking a further 5 million pounds to finance its next steps. This funding will support the next Blue Star pilot programme and further Blue Core development. The Edinburgh-based company anticipates first sales of Blue Star in 2028.

The Blue Core timeline extends further into the decade. The company intends to deliver its first offshore demonstrator of Blue Core in due course. Early commercial deployments are planned to begin from 2030. Its longer-term ambition is set out as a ten-year target. This aims for 6 GW of offshore-powered data centres installed by 2035.

 

Market Context and Competition

 

The concept responds to surging demand for computing power. Global demand for AI-optimised computing is set to quadruple over the next decade. AI data centres are projected to consume 1,200 terawatt-hours a year by 2035. Local opposition to new sites is a growing challenge alongside land and water constraints. Many operators wait years for a grid connection and rely on gas turbines to get online.

Interest in ocean-based infrastructure is already attracting significant investment. The first ocean data centre is operating in China, backed by 226 million dollars in funding. Wave energy developer CorPower Ocean has raised around 150 million dollars, while Panthalassa raised 140 million dollars for floating concepts. US technology companies including Microsoft and Amazon have shown interest in floating data centres. In June, US-based Optimal Transit revealed concept designs for its own maritime data centre series.