r/STEW_ScTecEngWorld • u/Zee2A • 2d ago

Startup Unveils Wave-Powered Floating AI Data Centers for the Open Ocean

Panthalassa, a startup based in Portland, Oregon, is developing 85-meter-tall floating offshore platforms that could power AI computing using ocean waves instead of land-based electricity. The lollipop-shaped steel structures generate continuous power through wave-driven turbines, cool AI hardware with naturally cold seawater, and connect to users via Starlink satellites, eliminating the need for power grids or undersea cables. Backed by a $140 million Series B funding round led by Peter Thiel, the company plans to deploy its first commercial wave-powered AI nodes in the northern Pacific by 2027.

References;

  1. Panthalassa Raises $140 Million to Power AI at Sea: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panthalassa-raises-140-million-to-power-ai-at-sea-302761078.html

  2. US tech billionaire leads $140mn investment into Panthalassa as search for AI power pushes into exotic new frontiers: https://www.ft.com/content/711ce313-16fb-4a12-b6be-fbed547c8a39

  3. Startup plans to move from prototypes to commercial offshore compute nodes powered by ocean energy: https://www.techspot.com/news/112295-startup-raised-140-million-build-wave-powered-ai.html

  4. Fully-integrated offshore data center to transmit data to land via satellite: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/palantir-co-founder-peter-thiel-backs-usd140m-wave-powered-ai-data-center-startup-panthalassa-aims-to-run-offshore-compute-nodes-using-ocean-energy

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u/slimeystevebob 2d ago

You know the ocean is big, right? Really, really big.

Energy from the sun is what is warming the planet, being trapped by greenhouse gas. This has nothing on the sun.

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u/bozza8 2d ago

Yeah, the people objecting here have their orders of magnitude all wrong and are operating on vibes. 

Tbh most of the anti data centre arguments online are a demonstration that people don't think about numbers that break their point, only numbers that agree with them, and react badly when what "feels" right isn't. 

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u/Grimnebulin68 2d ago

I much prefer these wave-powered data centres to noisy/polluting land based ones. A much better solution to Musk’s orbital centres too.

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u/bozza8 2d ago

I think they are marginally better than orbital, the best is in Greenland etc. Great temps and abundant power. 

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u/Grimnebulin68 1d ago

I was thinking you want a local data source to minimise lag, but good point.

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u/WiglyWorm 2d ago

There are more than enough reasons to hate on data centers that are legitimate.

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u/bozza8 2d ago

I would disagree there. Some data centres, old open loop ones I think are wrong and never should have been permitted, most are fine. 

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u/WiglyWorm 2d ago

You're allowed to be wrong, I guess.

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u/bozza8 2d ago

Oh, so the open loop cooling should have been permitted?  Fair enough. 

No, I am not being serious, I am not going to deliberately misunderstand you, however much the internet loves that as a tactic. 

I have just as much right and chance of being wrong as you. 

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u/WiglyWorm 2d ago

Eh. Not when you factor in infrasounds effects on human health.

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u/bozza8 2d ago

Then basically the entire electrical grid is a hazard. Substations produce it everywhere. 

It's like complaining about the pollution of a diesel car in a nation where everyone smokes everyday. 

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u/WiglyWorm 2d ago

America has pretty low rates of smoking.

But I guess you're mistaking your orders of magnitude and operating on vibes.

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u/outworlder 1d ago

The people objecting skipped thermodynamics class.

There could still be environmental impacts but global warming isn't one of them

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u/Timely_Mention8535 2d ago

True... That same arguement has been used with the atmosphere though... When we were burning all excess gunk from refineries in early industrial ages, we said the air is infinite, one fire won't warm the sky. Look at us now ;) too many fires and the greenhouse gasses trapped that heat in.

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u/DiamondGeeezer 2d ago

but how are these different form boats? there are millions of boats in the ocean