AI Data Centers to Ride the Waves

Technology is being developed to operate data centers, essential for enhancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) computing power, on the ocean. Panthalassa's floating nodes convert wave energy into electricity and feature a cooling system that utilizes seawater. AI data centers require immense power, space, and cooling systems, and Panthalassa's technology offers a solution to these challenges. By deploying nodes in wave-rich areas, Panthalassa converts high-energy-density resources into stable, clean electricity.

Silicon Valley startup Panthalassa has secured $140 million (approximately 190 billion KRW) in new funding for its technology that generates power for AI chips using wave energy. With this investment, Panthalassa has now raised a total of $210 million (approximately 290 billion KRW). The funding round was led by Peter Thiel.

With the secured funds, Panthalassa plans to complete a pilot manufacturing facility near Portland, Oregon. The company aims to deploy its Ocean-3 pilot node series in the North Pacific Ocean in the latter half of 2026.

The company has spent a decade developing technologies for power generation, on-board computing, and autonomous maritime operations. Prototypes, Ocean-1, Ocean-2, and Wavehopper, were tested in 2021 and 2024. Panthalassa plans to deploy computing power at sea instead of building land-based data centers, processing AI computations on its on-board systems and then transmitting data to land via low-earth orbit satellites.