South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is reviewing an expansion of its HiMSEN engine business. The move follows a 627.1 billion won (US$408 million) contract with Aperion Energy Group, a US energy infrastructure developer.

The project aims to supply power equipment based on 20-megawatt HiMSEN engines for about 684 megawatts of US data center power capacity.

HD Hyundai said HiMSEN is a large medium-speed engine. The order showed its marine engine technology could be adapted for land-based, mission-critical power supply for data centers.

The move reflects broader demand for on-site power as AI data center developers face grid bottlenecks in the US, including interconnection queues that can stretch seven years.

But similar projects may still face delays as developers seek permits and navigate emissions-related challenges.

Samsung Heavy Industries, one of South Korea’s biggest shipbuilders, and Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, together with Hitachi, are also exploring floating data centers. In this segment, a prototype has already operated in California for several years.

🔗 Source: Chosun Daily