'The ocean is really unlimited in terms of how much energy is available': No land, no fuel, no cables — how wave-powered ocean platforms could tackle the power needs of AI data centers
Ocean-3 wants to power data centers at sea using only ocean waves
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/efosa-udinmwen · TechRadarNews By Efosa Udinmwen published 29 April 2026
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- Panthalassa Ocean-3 generates power and process AI workloads directly at sea
- Ocean motion replaces fossil fuels as the primary energy source
- No cables, no anchors, just autonomous systems riding constant waves
Washington state startup Panthalassa is building self-propelled floating platforms that generate electricity from ocean waves and use it to power AI data centers at sea.
The platform, dubbed Ocean-3, has devices that have no anchor, need no fuel, and have no cables connecting them to shore.
Each platform rises and falls with the waves, forcing water through an internal turbine to generate electricity.
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How a floating hydroelectric dam works without any cables
The generated power then runs onboard computing hardware that processes AI tasks on the spot, with results sent back via satellite.
"The ocean is really unlimited in terms of how much energy is available," said Garth Sheldon-Coulson, CEO and co-founder of Panthalassa. "It will really be the cheapest energy on the planet."
The Ocean-3 works more like a floating hydroelectric dam. As waves lift the platform, water inside a tube is forced upward into a ballast tank.
This water then flows into a spinning turbine, which generates electricity. The system is self-propelled, moving like a large Roomba rather than being tethered to the ocean floor.
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