Seoul: South Korean shipbuilding group HD Hyundai Co. announced that its barge-mounted power plant technology has received approval from a U.S. classification society, marking a significant step towards entering the emerging plant market.

According to Yonhap News Agency, HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai's shipbuilding businesses, obtained approval in principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for a 100-megawatt barge-mounted power plant. This approval encompasses key technologies and designs, including the basic concept, electrical single-line diagram, and stability assessment.

Floating power plants, which generate electricity at sea using power-generation engines and transmit it onshore, are gaining traction as a solution for areas where land-based power infrastructure is challenging to establish or where there is an increasing demand for large-scale electricity, such as data centers and industrial complexes.

These "power plants at sea" are increasingly appealing due to the artificial intelligence boom and the rapid growth of data centers, which are driving up electricity demand. They also present an alternative to traditional land-based power plants, which face limitations such as restricted sites and environmental regulations.

HD KSOE intends to venture into the floating power plant market following the completion of detailed design work and the acquisition of additional certifications.